text stringlengths 2 522k | url stringlengths 18 697 | crawl_date timestamp[ns, tz=UTC]date 2022-04-01 00:00:00 2022-04-13 01:15:24 |
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11 lessons
113m
Liz Hennessy
Intro to Federation
10m
Creating the subgraph schemas
10m
Building out the subgraphs
15m
Journey of a federated graph
10m
Publishing the subgraphs with Rover
15m
Querying the gateway
5m
Configuring the gateway with Uplink
10m
Entities: Connecting data between subgraphs
8m
Extending an entity
10m
Referencing an entity
15m
Putting it all together
5m
Learn how to modularize your GraphQL backend using Apollo Federation.
JavaScript | https://www.apollographql.com/tutorials/voyage-part1/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:04Z |
Lawrence T. Damsky, of Silver Spring, passed away on March 19. Beloved husband of Cloteele Damsky; devoted father of Robert (Emma) Damsky and Jennifer Damsky; cherished grandfather of Sam and Katie Damsky. Contributions may be made to the American Red Cross (redcross.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care. | https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/lawrence-t-damsky/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:03Z |
“There will be battles ahead,” he added.
Meanwhile, a convoy of 45 buses headed to Mariupol in another bid to evacuate people from the besieged port city after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. But Russian forces blocked the buses, and only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government.
Twelve Ukrainian trucks were able to deliver humanitarian supplies to Mariupol, but they were all seized by Russian troops, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said late Thursday.
The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands have managed to get out of Mariupol in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing its population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 as of last week, but other relief efforts have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks.
A new round of talks was scheduled for Friday, five weeks into the war that has left thousands dead and driven 4 million Ukrainians from the country.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russian forces at the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster had transferred control of it in writing to the Ukrainians.
The last Russian troops left the Chernobyl plant early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said.
Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it had not been able to confirm the reports of Russian troops receiving high doses. It said it was seeking more information.
Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. The workforce at the site oversees the safe storage of spent fuel rods and the concrete-entombed ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986.
Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it “seems unlikely" a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details.
He said contaminated material was probably buried or covered with new topsoil during the cleanup of Chernobyl, and some soldiers may have been exposed to a “hot spot” of radiation while digging. Others may have assumed they were at risk too, he said.
Early this week, the Russians said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations along.
But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk said on social media Thursday that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Pavliuk said there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east.
Chernihiv came under attack as well. At least one person was killed and four were wounded in the Russian shelling of a humanitarian convoy of buses sent to Chernihiv to evacuate residents cut off from food, water and other supplies, said Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Lyudmyla Denisova
Ukraine also reported Russian artillery barrages in and around the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas.
“Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions,” Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he said, pressure is being kept up on Kyiv and other cities, and “we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering.”
The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said that its “main goal” now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol.
The top rebel leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, issued an order to set up a rival city government for Mariupol, according to Russian state news agencies, in a sign of Russian intent to hold and administer the city.
With talks set to resume between Ukraine and Russia via video, there seemed little faith that the two sides would resolve the conflict any time soon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that conditions weren’t yet “ripe” for a cease-fire and that he wasn’t ready for a meeting with Zelenskyy until negotiators do more work, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said after a telephone conversation with the Russian leader.
In other developments, Ukraine’s emergency services said the death toll had risen to 20 in a Russian missile strike Tuesday on a government administration building in the southern city of Mykolaiv.
As Western officials search for clues about what Russia's next move might be, a top British intelligence official said demoralized Russian soldiers in Ukraine are refusing to carry out orders and sabotaging their equipment and had accidentally shot down their own aircraft.
In a speech in Australia, Jeremy Fleming, head of the GCHQ electronic spy agency, said Putin had apparently “massively misjudged” the invasion.
The Pentagon reported Thursday that an initial half-dozen shipments of weapons and other security assistance from the U.S. have reached Ukraine as part of an $800 million aid package President Joe Biden approved this month.
The shipments included Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, body armor, medical supplies and other materials, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Putin is being misinformed by his advisers about how badly the war is going because they are afraid to tell him the truth.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the U.S. is wrong and that “neither the State Department nor the Pentagon possesses the real information about what is happening in the Kremlin.”
___
Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP's coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Caption People hide in a basement of a church which is used as a bomb shelter, after fleeing from nearby villages, that have been attacked by the Russian army, in the town of Bashtanka, Mykolaiv district, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The talks between Ukraine and Russia will resume on Friday as NATO Secretary-General says Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead redeploying forces to the eastern Donbas region. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Credit: Petros Giannakouris
Credit: Petros Giannakouris
Caption People hide in a basement of a church which is used as a bomb shelter, after fleeing from nearby villages, that have been attacked by the Russian army, in the town of Bashtanka, Mykolaiv district, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The talks between Ukraine and Russia will resume on Friday as NATO Secretary-General says Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead redeploying forces to the eastern Donbas region. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Credit: Petros Giannakouris
Credit: Petros Giannakouris
Caption Destroyed Russian armor vehicles are seen in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Russian forces shelled Kyiv suburbs, two days after the Kremlin announced it would significantly scale back operations near both the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.” (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption Destroyed Russian armor vehicles are seen in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Russian forces shelled Kyiv suburbs, two days after the Kremlin announced it would significantly scale back operations near both the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.” (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption Ukrainian soldiers carry a body of a civilian killed by the Russian forces over the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Ukrainian soldiers carry a body of a civilian killed by the Russian forces over the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Oleksandr, 81, rides a bicycle next to a destroyed Russian tank in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Russian forces shelled Kyiv suburbs, two days after the Kremlin announced it would significantly scale back operations near both the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.” (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption Oleksandr, 81, rides a bicycle next to a destroyed Russian tank in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Russian forces shelled Kyiv suburbs, two days after the Kremlin announced it would significantly scale back operations near both the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.” (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption A Ukrainian soldier stands one top of a destroyed Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption A Ukrainian soldier stands one top of a destroyed Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armored transporter driving through a Russian position overran by Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armored transporter driving through a Russian position overran by Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption A Ukrainian soldier crosses the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption A Ukrainian soldier crosses the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Ukrainian soldiers carry a body of a civilian killed by the Russian forces under the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Ukrainian soldiers carry a body of a civilian killed by the Russian forces under the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Private cars burnt by the Russian forces and left by refugees on the road outside Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Private cars burnt by the Russian forces and left by refugees on the road outside Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption A Russian military hat lies on the pavement after Ukrainian forces overran a Russian position outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption A Russian military hat lies on the pavement after Ukrainian forces overran a Russian position outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption Ukrainian soldiers collect bodies of civilians killed by the Russian forces at the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption Ukrainian soldiers collect bodies of civilians killed by the Russian forces at the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption A machine gun of a Ukrainian soldier rests next to condiments for lunch in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption A machine gun of a Ukrainian soldier rests next to condiments for lunch in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Credit: Rodrigo Abd
Caption A Ukrainian soldier carries a dog saved from under the ruins of houses destroyed by the Russian forces in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption A Ukrainian soldier carries a dog saved from under the ruins of houses destroyed by the Russian forces in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The more than month-old war has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Caption An elderly woman who was evacuated from Irpin, lies on a stretcher on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption An elderly woman who was evacuated from Irpin, lies on a stretcher on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption Ukrainians arrive at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The talks between Ukraine and Russia will resume on Friday as NATO Secretary-General says Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead redeploying forces to the eastern Donbas region. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Credit: Sergei Grits
Caption Ukrainians arrive at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland, Thursday, March 31, 2022. The talks between Ukraine and Russia will resume on Friday as NATO Secretary-General says Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead redeploying forces to the eastern Donbas region. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Credit: Sergei Grits
Credit: Sergei Grits
Caption Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armored transporter driving through a Russian position overran by Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Caption Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armored transporter driving through a Russian position overran by Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other zones Thursday amid indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation as cover while regrouping and resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Credit: Vadim Ghirda
Credit: Vadim Ghirda | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/russians-leave-chernobyl-site-as-fighting-rages-elsewhere/DKFWRLN7M5HZLPM4XXIV3JRHCY/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:05Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television."
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton | https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/Oscars-producer-says-police-offered-to-arrest-17049804.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:06Z |
CALABASAS, Calif., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company") today announced that its operating partnership, American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2032 (the "2032 Notes") and $300 million aggregate principal amount of 4.300% Senior Notes due 2052 (the "2052 Notes" and together with the 2032 Notes, the "Notes"). The 2032 Notes will be issued at 97.517% of par value with a coupon of 3.625% per annum. The 2052 Notes will be issued at 97.237% of par value with a coupon of 4.300% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2022. The 2032 Notes will mature on April 15, 2032 and the 2052 Notes will mature on April 15, 2052. The offering is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and is expected to close on or about April 7, 2022.
The Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay amounts outstanding on its revolving credit facility and any remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, property acquisitions and developments, the expansion, redevelopment and/or improvement of existing properties in its portfolio, other capital expenditures, the redemption of its Series F preferred shares, the redemption of its other preferred shares, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, working capital and other general purposes.
BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering, and Wells Fargo Securities, BMO Capital Markets, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Raymond James are acting as book-running managers for the offering. Mizuho Securities, Scotiabank, US Bancorp, Regions Securities LLC, Ramirez & Co., Inc. and RBC Capital Markets are acting as co-managers for the offering.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification thereof under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering and the final prospectus supplement, when available, may be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from BofA Securities, Inc., 200 North College Street, NC1-004-03-43, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, by telephone at 1-800-294-1322 or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attn: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at 1-866-803-9204; and PNC Capital Markets LLC, The Tower at PNC Plaza, 300 Fifth Avenue, Floor 10, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or by telephone at 1-855-881-0697.
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 a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and resident 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, 2021, we owned 57,024 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.
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 "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "potential," "plan," "goal," "outlook," "guidance" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the Operating Partnership's ability to complete the offering and the intended use of net proceeds. The Operating Partnership has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Operating Partnership'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 Operating Partnership's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These and other important factors, including "Risk Factors" disclosed in, or incorporated by reference into, the prospectus from the Company's and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's and the Operating Partnership's subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause the Operating Partnership's actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform to actual results or changes in expectations, unless required by applicable law.
Contact:
American Homes 4 Rent
Investor Relations
Phone: (855) 794-2447
Email: investors@ah4r.com
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SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent | https://www.nbc12.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/american-homes-4-rent-announces-pricing-public-offering-600-million-3625-senior-notes-due-2032-300-million-4300-senior-notes-due-2052/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:06Z |
– Company Expects to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Revenue of approximately $12 Million and $32 Million, respectively –
– Expects First Quarter 2022 Revenue to Range from $8 million to $8.5 Million –
– Provides Full Year 2022 Revenue Outlook of $70 million to $80 Million –
– Expects Form 10-K Filing to be Delayed –
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Volta Inc. (“Volta” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VLTA), an industry leading global EV charging network, powering vehicles and commerce, today announced preliminary revenues of approximately $12 million for its fourth quarter 2021, up 45% year-over-year, and revenues of $32 million for the full year ended December 31, 2021, up 66% year-over-year. Total stalls connected as of December 31, 2021 was 2,330.
Furthermore, the Company expects first quarter 2022 revenues to range from $8 million to $8.5 million. For full year 2022, the Company anticipates revenues to range from $70 million to $80 million. Volta expects 2022 revenue to be greater in the second half of the year, as a reflection of the growing scale of our network and accompanying seasonal media revenue patterns. For 2022, the Company expects total incremental, connected stalls in the range of 1,700 to 2,000.
Due to additional time required to complete its year-end reporting process and file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, Volta expects to file a Notification of Late Filing on Form 12b-25. Upon completion of the filing of Form 10-K, the Company anticipates holding an investor call.
About Volta Inc.
Volta Inc. (NYSE: VLTA) is a leading global EV charging network, powering vehicles and commerce. Volta Charging’s vision is to build EV charging networks that capitalize on and catalyze the shift from combustion-powered miles to electric miles by placing stations where consumers live, work, shop and play. By leveraging a data-driven understanding of driver behavior to deliver EV charging solutions that fit seamlessly into drivers’ daily routines, Volta Charging’s goal is to benefit consumers, brands and real-estate locations while helping to build the infrastructure of the future. As part of Volta Charging’s unique EV charging offering, its stations allow it to enhance its site hosts’ and strategic partners’ core commercial interests, creating a new means for them to benefit from the transformative shift to electric mobility. To learn more, visit www.voltacharging.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “feels,” “believes,” expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “is to be,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology and include, among other things, statements regarding Volta’s strategy and other future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not limited to: intense competition faced by Volta in the electric vehicle (“EV”) charging market and in its content activities; the possibility that Volta is not able to build on and develop strong relationships with real estate and retail partners to build out its charging network and content partners to expand its content sales activities; market conditions, including seasonality, that may impact the demand for EVs and EV charging stations or content on Volta’s digital displays; the ability of Volta to effectively retain senior management and execute on its business strategy; risks, cost overruns and delays associated with construction and installation of Volta’s charging stations; risks associated with any future expansion by Volta into additional international markets; cost increases, delays or new or increased taxation or other restrictions on the availability or cost of electricity; rapid technological change in the EV industry may require Volta to continue to develop new products and product innovations, which it may not be able to do successfully or without significant cost; the impact of competing technologies that could reduce the demand for EVs; the risk that Volta’s shift to including a pay-for-use charging business model and the requirement of mobile check-ins adversely impacts Volta’s ability to retain driver interest, content partners and site hosts; the EV market may not continue to grow as expected; the risk that Volta may fail to effectively build scalable and robust processes to manage the growth of its business and to expand its geographic footprint; the ability to protect its intellectual property rights; and those factors discussed in Volta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as supplemented by other reports and documents Volta files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Volta undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
Contacts
Investors: IR@voltacharging.com
Media: press@voltacharging.com | https://www.01net.it/volta-inc-provides-business-update/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:06Z |
Jeff Prudhomme
The Fulcrum recently asked whether journalistic objectivity should be the standard in reporting. Jeff Prudhomme, vice president of the Interactivity Foundation, provided a lengthy response shared below. Journalism should absolutely focus on truth-telling, because democracy...
thefulcrum.us | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556614174206/jeff-prudhomme | 2022-04-01T01:00:07Z |
(The Center Square) – A ruling that declared four Arkansas voting laws unconstitutional "threatens electoral chaos and confusion," Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said Thursday in an emergency motion filed with the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen tossed the laws earlier this month that would have required voter identification for absentee ballots, banned loitering near polling places and changed the time absentee ballots must be submitted.
Griffen denied the state's motion for a stay earlier this week.
Rutledge asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to consider the matter "urgent" and issue a stay of injunction and give the matter expedited consideration.
"Absentee ballots are finalized and ready to be mailed – and, indeed, must be mailed by next week – and in-person voting begins in mere weeks," Rutledge said in her motion. "It is common sense that courts ought not change the rules on the eve of an election due to the ensuing chaos and confusion. Yet Judge Griffen did just that."
A spokesperson from Secretary of State John Thurston's office said he could not comment on the issue because it is pending in court.
The state is likely to win its appeal as it "undeniably has an interest in preventing voter fraud," Rutledge said in the motion.
"Applying strict scrutiny to any election measure aimed at maintaining ballot integrity means that those measures will almost invariably fail," Rutledge said in the court filing.
Arkansas also is facing a challenge to its congressional redistricting boundaries. Four Black residents have filed a federal lawsuit accusing Arkansas lawmakers of diluting Black voting strength in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Pulaski County. Lawmakers split the voters into first and fourth district.
"However, there were other plans proposed that achieved that purpose without splitting the heavily Black populated areas of Congressional District Two, and many others that can be easily devised to accomplish the population goals while achieving compactness and preserving and improving communities of interest," the plaintiffs said in their lawsuit.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not sign the redistricting bills last October but allowed them to become law without his signature, saying he was concerned about how the district lines would affect minority voting.
“While the percentage of the minority composition of the proposed map for three of the four districts does not differ much from the current percentages, the removal of minority areas in Pulaski County into two different districts raises concerns," Hutchinson said at the time. "I decided not to veto the bills but instead to let them go into law without my signature. This will enable those who wish to challenge this redistricting plan in court to do so."
The federal case will be heard by a three-judge panel. | https://www.thecentersquare.com/arkansas/arkansas-ag-voting-lawsuit-could-throw-primaries-into-chaos/article_36e2798e-b121-11ec-8e61-3f76591ca9d7.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:07Z |
Nathaniel Wood’s next fight will not be in the bantamweight division.
Wood revealed that he is closing the book on his 135-pound career — at least for the time being — and will be making the move to the UFC’s featherweight division. “The Prospect” made the announcement on Thursday via his Instagram page.
“That’s the end of a chapter for now, myself and the team have made the decision to move up and compete at [145 pounds]. I’m excited and motivated more than ever to go in there powerful, fueled and happy,” Wood stated.
The former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion hasn’t competed since October 2020 where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Casey Kenney at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi. Wood was slated to face Jonathan Martinez in September 2021 but was forced to withdraw from the matchup.
Wood was then slated to compete at the memorable UFC London earlier this month. His originally scheduled opponent Liudvik Sholinian withdrew from the bout to take the front lines in his home country of Ukraine during this invasion by Russia. Vince Morales was tapped to face Wood at the O2 Arena but after arriving in the U.K., Morales fell ill and was forced out of the bout.
The 28-year-old is 4-2 through his first six octagon appearances, which includes stoppage wins over Andre Ewell, Jose Quinones, and Johnny Eduardo. | https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/31/23005007/nathaniel-wood-announces-end-of-a-chapter-for-now-at-bantamweight-move-to-145 | 2022-04-01T01:00:07Z |
G20 must speak truth to Putin
What you need to know:
- The G20’s credibility is an important asset in a world of increasingly globalised challenges.
- Eight G20 members have publicly declared their non-participation in economic sanctions against Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
The next big test of the G20’s credibility will come when (or if) its finance ministers and central bank governors meet for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings on April 18-24.
As the leading forum for international economic policy cooperation today, the G20 will have a crowded agenda. Top-line issues include central bank responses to escalating global inflation; accumulating evidence of rapid climate change; and coordination of health and fiscal policy. But the bear in the room will be Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine and its repercussions.
Visible failures have undermined the G20’s credibility in recent years. During US President Donald Trump’s administration, G20 communiqués were regularly watered down to near meaninglessness. More recently, the group has failed to formulate an effective global response to Covid-19, let alone prepare for future pandemics.
The G20’s credibility is an important asset in a world of increasingly globalised challenges. Which means the meeting could be a watershed. So far, G20 members have approached the Ukraine crisis in very different ways, in terms of both public communications and policies. While the US and its allies have responded with significant sanctions, 38 countries, including China, India and South Africa, recently abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution criticising Russia and demanding humanitarian access in Ukraine.
Economic sanctions
According to the sanctions tracker maintained by Chad P. Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, eight G20 members (all the middle-income members) have publicly declared their non-participation in economic sanctions against Russia, and Saudi Arabia — a US ally that is a partner of Russia within Opec+ — has proven similarly disinclined. It is thus apparent that the group will not reach a consensus even on how to describe Russia’s war or its effects on world markets. Yet to downplay Russia’s aggression in the interest of unanimity might erode the G20’s credibility beyond recovery.
The G20 is sure to weigh in on one prominent and direct repercussion of Russia’s invasion: A prospective fall in global food supply. Even before February 24, global food prices were approaching record highs, owing to a confluence of factors similar to those that generated food-price spikes in 2007-08 and 2010. Earlier episodes led to widespread social instability in some poorer countries; with many low- and middle-income countries now facing inflation pressures, higher debt levels and vulnerabilities to disease and climate change, the effects could be explosive.
Ukraine and Russia are top exporters of wheat, maize, and sunflower seeds and oil. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s recent projections, already-high food and feed prices could increase by 8-22 per cent over the course of this year and next, owing to the destruction of Ukraine’s production, storage and transport facilities, coupled with possible sanctions-related disruptions to Russia’s grain and fertiliser exports, elevated world energy prices, and higher shipping and insurance fees. The number of undernourished people could rise by 8-13 million.
As with previous food-price shocks, today’s crisis puts a premium on international policy coordination. Most importantly, as the FAO and the World Trade Organization have urged, the G20 must collectively reject beggar-thy-neighbour food export taxes or controls. These measures have begun to proliferate, even though they produced massive increases in global food prices in the past.
Global economic shock
Calls for palliative measures can help, but unless they are accompanied by a frank discussion of root causes and remedies, they risk enabling bad behaviour. Russia could easily and unilaterally mitigate the crisis by ending its bloody assault, particularly its targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
True, part of the global economic shock from the war is due to sanctions; but these would be scaled back were Russia to withdraw its forces and cease its bombardments. In the meantime, Saudi Arabia (along with the United Arab Emirates) could temper the surge in global energy prices by pumping more oil.
The bulk of the members should aim to draft and endorse a communiqué that candidly identifies Russia as the obvious source of both the problem and its remediation. This could be a simple statement of facts, free of language overtly condemning anyone. Of course, Russia steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the facts, arguing that “a possible food crisis is provoked not by Russia’s special operation in Ukraine but by the West’s illegal unilateral sanctions.”
G20 members, including Russia, are the major players affecting the global commons. It is still important that they communicate in all the critical areas where they wield influence, including nutrition, health and climate. Substantive agreement, where possible, will advance global welfare. But fundamental disagreement can and should be publicly acknowledged so that subsets of members can still pursue their own initiatives.
Mr Obstfeld, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and senior non-resident fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. © Project Syndicate, 2022. | https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/g20-must-speak-truth-to-putin--3767390 | 2022-04-01T01:00:07Z |
B.C. reports 5 more people in hospital with COVID-19, 1 less in an ICU and 2 more deaths
Details on 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine coming Tuesday, health minister says
B.C. health officials reported 281 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Thursday, including 42 in intensive care, as the province recorded two more deaths from the disease and 249 new cases.
The new numbers represent an increase of five COVID-19 patients hospitalized within the last 24 hours. There is one less patient in an ICU.
Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are up by 10 per cent from last Thursday, when 255 people were in hospital with the disease and down about 49 per cent from a month ago when 549 people were in hospital.
The number of patients in intensive care is down by about 19 per cent from 52 a week ago and down by 51 per cent from a month ago when 85 people were in an ICU.
As of Thursday, seven per cent of COVID-19 tests in B.C. are coming back positive, according to the province's COVID-19 dashboard. The number had been above 20 per cent though most of January but began to fall in February, along with hospitalizations. Test positivity bottomed out earlier this month at 5.6 per cent, but has been slowly creeping back up since Mar. 21.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said anything above a five per cent test-positivity rate is an indicator of a more worrying level of transmission.
The provincial death toll from COVID-19 is now 2,998 lives lost out of 356,501 confirmed cases to date.
There are a total of nine active outbreaks in assisted living, long-term, and acute care facilities, including an outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
As of Thursday, 90.8 per cent of those five and older in B.C. had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 87.3 per cent a second dose.
From Mar. 23 to 29, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 17.3 per cent of cases and from Mar. 16 to 29, they accounted for 21.9 per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.
A total of 2.7 million people have received a booster shot to date.
4th dose details coming
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province is preparing to provide an update this Tuesday on potentially making a
fourth COVID-19 dose available to vulnerable people in British Columbia.
The minister says discussions are underway about providing a second booster shot to clinically vulnerable people such as those in long-term care.
Dix told reporters B.C.'s COVID-19 strategy has always been to protect the most vulnerable and act on evidence that is reviewed daily.
Reinstate mask mandate: human rights commissioner
B.C.'s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender wrote a letter to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry calling for the return of mask mandates.
Govender said in an interview on CBC's All Points West lifting the mask mandate not only poses a health risk to immunocompromised people, but further isolates them from accessing spaces where masks are no longer mandated.
"There will be a day where we don't have to wear masks anymore, but that day is not here yet," said Govender.
Govender has not yet received a response from the Ministry of Health.
With files from The Canadian Press | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-19-march-31-1.6403648?cmp=rss | 2022-04-01T01:00:08Z |
PRESS RELEASE
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), with a call on the commission to scale up its regulatory role ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Please note that as we move closer to the 2023 general elections, the NBC will come under increasing pressure to step up its regulatory role to prevent a repeat of what transpired before, during and after the
2019 general elections, when some broadcast stations threw caution to the wind and engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcasts.
”It is important for the Commission to ensure that its licensees adhere strictly to the tenets of the Broadcasting Code,” the Minister said while inaugurating the Board in Abuja on Thursday.
He also called on the Board to develop relevant policies that will drive the implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO), which is the flagship project of the NBC.
“We have an ambitious plan to fast-track the DSO this year by launching it in at least two states every month. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet this target. But we are working hard to resume the DSO launch as soon as possible. I urge you all to buy into
this project to ensure that NBC is able to deliver on what we perceive as a legacy project – because it will change the face of broadcasting in Nigeria,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
He urged the members of new NBC Board to maintain a cordial relationship with the management, and to strictly adhere to their
roles in policy formulation and refrain from getting involved in the the day-to-day running of the organization.
“Please note that the role of the board of any organization is to formulate policies, and not to engage in the day-to-day running of the
organization. The Board is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the commission so it can most effectively deliver its mandate. I therefore
enjoin you all to maintain a cordial relationship with the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission to engender a smooth working
relationship,” the Minister said.
In his remarks on behalf of the Board, the Chairman, Mr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for finding them worthy to serve.
He pledged the readiness of the Board members to work with the management of the NBC as well as the Ministerial Task Force on the DSO to ensure the success of the project.
The inauguration of the Board was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr. Ifeoma Adaora
Anyanwutaku, and the Senator representing Adamawa Central, Hajia Aisha Dahiru, among other dignitaries.
Other members of the Board are Mr. Wada Asab Ibrahim, Mr. Iheanyichukwu Azubike Dike, Mrs. Adesola Oyinloye Ndu, Mr. Olaniyan
Olatunji Badmus, Mr. Bashir Ibrahim, Mr. Obiora Ilo, Mr, Ahmad Sajo, Engr. Bayo Erikitola, Mr. Peter Afunanya, the representative of the
Department of State Services, Dr. Musbau Kayode, representing the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, and the NBC Director-General, Alhaji Balarabe Ilelah.
Segun Adeyemi
Special Assistant To The President (Media)
Office of the Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
31 March 2022 | https://www.ondoevents.com/archives/38413 | 2022-04-01T01:00:08Z |
Former President Trump senior adviser Jared Kushner provided "helpful" information to the Democratic-led House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a member of the panel said.
Kushner, married to Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, who was also a senior adviser, is the most high profile member of Trump's inner circle known to have appeared before the committee.
He voluntarily appeared for a remote interview that started at 10 a.m. and lasted at least into the early afternoon hours, several sources familiar with the committee's work said.
Kushner's meeting came two months after the panel asked Ivanka Trump to voluntarily appear before the committee. Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said Ivanka Trump and the committee are engaged in conversations, but no final plan has been reached on her appearance.
"The expectation is that it will take place, as to when I can't tell you right now, I know we are engaging her as a committee," Thompson said on Wednesday.
Virginia Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria told NPR the conversation with Kushner was "helpful." She told MSNBC that Kushner was able to substantiate information and provide his own take on different reports on the Jan. 6 attack.
Luria said it's valuable to hear firsthand accounts from witnesses such as Kushner directly.
"I think that the committee really appreciates hearing information directly from people who have relevant facts about January 6, and the fact that Jared Kushner came as a witness is helpful to building the story of our investigation," Luria said.
One source familiar with the committee's discussions but unable to speak on the record said there were details that Kushner couldn't remember but the source noted that like other witnesses, it has been more than a year since the attack on the Capitol and it is not uncommon for some to not recall some specifics.
Kushner was traveling back from Saudi Arabia on Jan. 6, 2021, but Thompson said he believes that he could help the committee understand more about the events that led up to that day.
"We think because he was an integral part of the administration, it's, I think, important for us to find out if he knew anything about the planning before January 6 and to get it from him," Thompson said.
Thompson, who was not at House votes on Thursday and voted by proxy, had said a day earlier if Kushner's interview went well, the panel would ask for additional communication details, such as call and text message records.
Thompson had previously waved off interest in Kushner but said the committee's staff has continued to reach out to potential witnesses.
"We have an excellent staff, and staff has been actively engaging a number of witnesses, including individuals or their attorneys and Kushner's attorney will be the same," Thompson told NPR on Wednesday.
The White House on Wednesday said it had waived executive privilege claims for Kushner and Ivanka Trump, allowing them to share certain details with the panel.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/2022-03-31/jared-kushner-provided-helpful-details-to-the-jan-6-committee-a-panel-member-says | 2022-04-01T01:00:08Z |
BOSTON — Former Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, who announced his retirement from the NHL on Feb. 9, now has mornings where he wakes up feeling great and others where he arises and is thankful he doesn’t need to go work on his butterfly.
Rask, while speaking to reporters Thursday before performing a ceremonial puck drop ahead of Boston’s game against the New Jersey Devils, spoke fondly about his 15 seasons with the organization, but acknowledged how he does not have any regrets about his decision.
Rask played four games during the 2021-22 campaign after working his way back from offseason hip surgery.
“It was just, it couldn’t hold the everyday grind — practicing and playing. That’s what I thought pretty quickly,” Rask said. “I felt really good during the rehab. I was skating, you know, started twice a week, going three times a week, four times a week and it was fine. But I was by myself or with the coach, one guy shooting so a little different from live action in a game or practice. And then playing that Anaheim game, I kind of stretched and tweaked my groin and hip a little bit and it (started) aggravating even more. And then it was kind of time to be honest with yourself.
“And I figured that I could have kept pushing, but what’s the benefit for me playing at 60% and kind of taking time off, taking a week off here, taking two weeks off, kind of taking a spot away from (Jeremy Swayman). So I just figured it’s more beneficial for everybody to call it. I had a great career, and I have no regrets.”
Rask acknowledged that while making difficult decisions is never easy, his decision to hang up his skates wasn’t overly difficult to make.
“It was an easy one. Yeah, you know, I’ve always been pretty honest with myself and like, I didn’t want to go out there and play it, like I said 60% which is like half-assed it so to say. So at the end of the day it was pretty easy,” Rask said. “Obviously it’s never easy to make tough decisions like that. But if you’re honest with yourself and, you know, you can’t play at the level you and your teammates and the crowd expects then what’s the question?”
Rask, who played his final game Jan. 24 in Anaheim, spent all 15 of his NFL seasons with the Bruins. He retired as Boston’s leader in wins (308) and second in franchise history in shutouts (52). Rask, 35, compiled a 308-165-66 during his time in Boston with a 2.28 goals against average and .921 save percentage.
Rask, a native of Savonlinna, Finland, was a member of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup team in 2010-11 and won the Vezina Trophy for the 2013-14 campaign. | https://nesn.com/2022/03/tuukka-rask-has-no-regrets-about-decision-to-retire-from-bruins-nhl/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:09Z |
USDA forecasting higher food, grocery costs in 2022
(Gray News) - It looks like elevated food prices are going to continue this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA released its Food Price Outlook for 2022 and predicted the cost of groceries would continue to increase to as much as 4%.
According to the Consumer Price Index, grocery and supermarket food prices were already 8.6% higher in February than last year and up nearly 1.5% from January to February in 2022.
As reported by the Associated Press, prices for U.S. consumers have continued to jump recently, leaving families facing the highest inflation rate since 1990.
“We’re getting into this situation where we have spiraling inflation,” said Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Advisors. “Inflation in one area drives inflation in another.”
Currently, the CPI reports all food categories are increasing in price other than fresh vegetables. Last year, the beef and veal categories had the most significant price increase of 9.3%, and the fresh vegetable category had the smallest at 1.1%. However, no food categories decreased in price in 2021.
Poultry prices are also expected to increase up to 7%, with egg prices predicted to increase up to 3.5% in 2022.
Overall, grocery store and supermarket food purchases are expected to increase up to 4%, with restaurant purchases or food away from home forecasted to increase up to 6.5%, according to the USDA.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox8live.com/2022/04/01/usda-forecasting-higher-food-grocery-costs-2022/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:08Z |
Efinity Token (EFI) traded 4.1% higher against the U.S. dollar during the 1-day period ending at 20:00 PM Eastern on March 31st. During the last week, Efinity Token has traded up 28.9% against the U.S. dollar. One Efinity Token coin can currently be purchased for about $0.59 or 0.00001300 BTC on major exchanges. Efinity Token has a total market cap of $100.80 million and $38.81 million worth of Efinity Token was traded on exchanges in the last day.
Here is how similar cryptocurrencies have performed during the last day:
- Binance USD (BUSD) traded 0.3% lower against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00002189 BTC.
- Polygon (MATIC) traded 3.9% lower against the dollar and now trades at $1.62 or 0.00003558 BTC.
- Polygon (MATIC) traded up 1% against the dollar and now trades at $1.65 or 0.00004286 BTC.
- Crypto.com Coin (CRO) traded up 5% against the dollar and now trades at $0.41 or 0.00001075 BTC.
- Dai (DAI) traded 0% lower against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00002191 BTC.
- Chainlink (LINK) traded 1.6% lower against the dollar and now trades at $17.01 or 0.00037265 BTC.
- Parkgene (GENE) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $25.59 or 0.00045023 BTC.
- DREP (DREP) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $1.96 or 0.00003398 BTC.
- DREP [old] (DREP) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $1.96 or 0.00003399 BTC.
- FTX Token (FTT) traded 4.5% lower against the dollar and now trades at $48.94 or 0.00107216 BTC.
About Efinity Token
According to CryptoCompare, “Efinity Token (EFI) is the native token of Efinity. Its purpose is to be an NFT highway, not a general computing blockchain. Token creation, transfers and purchases are the network’s priority. Transaction fees on Efinity are designed to stay in the background, and allow users to experience their favorite collectibles without worrying about how the network operates. Telegram | Discord Whitepaper “
Efinity Token Coin Trading
It is usually not possible to buy alternative cryptocurrencies such as Efinity Token directly using U.S. dollars. Investors seeking to acquire Efinity Token should first buy Bitcoin or Ethereum using an exchange that deals in U.S. dollars such as Changelly, Coinbase or Gemini. Investors can then use their newly-acquired Bitcoin or Ethereum to buy Efinity Token using one of the exchanges listed above.
Receive News & Updates for Efinity Token Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and updates for Efinity Token and related cryptocurrencies with MarketBeat.com's FREE CryptoBeat newsletter. | https://www.wkrb13.com/2022/04/01/efinity-token-hits-1-day-trading-volume-of-38-81-million-efi.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
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7+ hours of phone records reportedly are missing and a number of people, including former President Donald Trump are in hot water. Another person, Ginni Thomas, who is the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reportedly to former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, urging him to “stop the steal” (the slogan used by many on the far-right to keep Trump in office). Key Democrats are asking Thomas to recuse himself from any Jan. 6th cases and some pushing for impeachment or resignation.
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Conservative Talk Show Host Armstrong Williams returned to the Russ Parr Morning Show to talk about the January 6th incident that showed the United States. Williams spoke about possible punishment or lack thereof for Trump and Ginni’s involvement, saying that Justice Thomas was shocked to find out that his wife had any involvement, needed to “Lawyer up “and about having her “her own agenda.”
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Armstrong Williams: Ginni Thomas Needs To ‘Lawyer Up’ | Russ Parr Exclusive was originally published on blackamericaweb.com | https://mycolumbuspower.com/3768190/armstrong-williams-ginni-thomas-needs-to-lawyer-up-russ-parr-exclusive/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
Brazzaville/Copenhagen — The European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) is supporting the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) to boost COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and increase coverage in 15 African countries.
With a total of €16 million from ECHO, WHO is supporting operational and technical aspects of the vaccine rollout over 18 months in the following countries: Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Guinea; Liberia; Madagascar; Mali; Mozambique; Niger; Nigeria; Somalia; South Sudan Republic, and Sudan. The grant is also helping to reinforce the capacity of health workers to plan, coordinate and deploy the vaccines as well as monitor and document the results of the rollout and adequately investigate and report any adverse events following immunization.
The funding is part of the European Union’s (EU) humanitarian initiative for COVID-19 vaccination in Africa which aims to ensure increased access including for the most vulnerable as well as those living in hard-to-reach, remote and conflict-affected areas. It is also one of the many contributions from the EU and its Member States to the COVID-19 response. The EU also supports the COVAX Facility, the vaccines part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools-Accelerator created to develop and deliver tools to fight the pandemic.
“Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the EU, its Member States and European financial institutions have come together as Team Europe, contributing to the fight against the pandemic around the world, supporting in particular the African continent,” said Paraskevi Michou, Director General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection in the European Commission. “In addition to being a leading donor to the COVAX Facility, the EU supports local manufacturing of medicines and vaccines, the strengthening of research, analysis and sequencing capacities, as well as the improvement of health systems at regional and national levels in Africa. The EU has also provided a total of €100 million in humanitarian assistance to specifically support the rollout of vaccination campaigns in Africa, to help ensure equitable access to vaccines for vulnerable people, including in conflict-affected or hard-to-access areas. Our strong cooperation with the World Health Organization is instrumental in implementing this programme successfully.”
Efforts are ongoing to scale up COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Africa, where only 15% of the population is fully vaccinated so far. Around 404 million of the more than 716 million doses the continent has received to date have been administered.
In a fresh drive to support countries’ scale up vaccination, WHO and partner organizations have deployed more than 60 experts on the ground to form part of country expert teams. These teams are working to strengthen coordination, logistical and financial planning, including microplanning, surveillance of adverse events following immunization as well as vaccine uptake and stock data management. WHO partners are also working with people in the communities to strengthen trust and confidence in vaccination.
“With African countries striving to expand the COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the support by the European Union injects a crucial momentum into the drive to scale up coverage on continent. Vaccination is the best protection against the adverse impact of the virus and will also prevent new variants from emerging and threatening not only Africa but the world.,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
The vaccination campaigns prioritize vulnerable and high-risk populations such as health workers, older people, those with co-morbidities, in particularly living in fragile, conflict-affected and humanitarian contexts, including in refugee camps.
“Solidarity is key to ending this pandemic and to building back better. These are not just words. These principles have been already exemplified by the generous support with vaccines and funding provided by the European Union to the global pandemic response. Together in Europe, in Africa and beyond, WHO and the EU are working with local partners to ensure COVID-19 vaccination reaches the arms of everyone and that lessons learned contribute to resilient health systems,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
As the continent battles the pandemic it is also crucial to step up the efforts to address other vaccine-preventable disease as well as bolster health systems to provide accessible, quality and affordable care. | https://allafrica.com/stories/202203310800.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
HONOLULU (AP) — A man accused with his wife of trafficking a mother and teenaged girl to Hawaii from Guam pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Kevin Robert pleaded not guilty to labor trafficking charges, according to his attorney, Tim Rakieten. His wife, Pomerrine Robert, pleaded not guilty last week. Kevin Robert's arraignment was postponed then because he requested a Chuukese interpreter.
“I need sufficient time to review the case, and review with him, before I can comment any further,” Rakieten said.
State Public Defender James Tabe, whose office represents Pomerrine Robert, has previously declined to comment.
Police alleged in court documents that when the 15-year-old girl and her mother arrived in Honolulu, the Roberts took away their passports, forced them to work and beat them.
Court documents don't specify the country of the passports.
The girl and her mother lived in the couple's apartment, while the teen enrolled at a high school and the woman got a job at a deli where Pomerrine Robert also worked, the documents said.
The documents said Robert took away the mother’s money, the girl was expected to clean the apartment and Robert beat the girl and mother.
The couple locked the girl in a bedroom for several days and she reported it to a school counselor after she was let out, according to the documents. | https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/Husband-pleads-not-guilty-in-Hawaii-Guam-17049732.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
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Albany
Partly Cloudy
Good 4
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06:35
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R4 RTG 58+ Handicap
1100m
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, RTG58+, Handicap
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, RTG58+, Handicap
Prize:
$20,000
1st:
$11,600
2nd:
$4,000
3rd:
$1,800
Track Info:
RAIL - +4m Entire Cutaway applies.
Friday 01 April 2022 07:40AM
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Yes | https://www.racenet.com.au/results/horse-racing/albany-20220401/albany-stock-feeds-handicap-race-4 | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
Best MetaTrader 4 is one of the most popular Forex trading platforms in the world. It offers a wide range of features and tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. Using effective software can provide a trader with a significant advantage.
For this reason, we believe that choosing the one that fits your needs and preferences is an absolute must. Now, we will discuss some tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of Best MetaTrader 4. Coming across it is not complex. You can download MetaTrader 5 from CFI Lebanon. We will also provide a brief overview of some of the most important features offered by this platform.
1. Navigating Charts
One of the essential features of Best MetaTrader is its ability to provide users with detailed charts. These charts can be used to track the prices of different currencies and other financial instruments. You can also use them to identify trends and patterns. The user interface of Best MetaTrader is designed in such a way that it is easy to navigate these charts.
2. The Toolbar
The toolbar is one of the most popular features you will come across. It provides users with a range of different tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. The toolbar also allows users to access the help menu and the settings menu.
3. The Terminal
The terminal is another common feature we would like to address. It allows users to view their account balance, margin level, and open positions. It also provides users with a range of different tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments.
4. The Order Window
The Order Window allows users to place orders for currencies and other financial instruments. The order window also allows users to view the status of their orders.
5. The History Window
The History Window allows users to view the history of their trades. The history window also allows users to view the profit and loss statements of their accounts.
6. The Expert Advisors
Expert Advisors are a range of tools that help with trading currencies and other financial instruments. Expert Advisors can be used to automatically place trades, or they can be used to provide users with advice.
7. The Custom Indicators
Custom Indicators are a range of different tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. Custom indicators can be used to identify trends and patterns. These can help with understanding all the movements that could prove crucial for planning future moves. Without this assistance, this procedure can become quite a hard thing to pull off.
8. The Scripts
Scripts are a range of different tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. Scripts can be used to automatically place trades or they can provide users with advice.
9. The Custom Templates
Custom templates are a range of different tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. Custom templates can be used to identify trends and patterns.
10. The Custom Timeframes
Custom timeframes are a range of different tools that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. Custom timeframes can be used to identify trends and patterns.
11. Drawing Tools
Best MetaTrader provides users with a range of different drawing tools. These drawing tools can be used to identify trends and patterns. The drawing tools can be accessed by going to the Insert menu and then selecting the Drawing option.
12. HotKeys
HotKeys are a range of different shortcuts that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. HotKeys can be used to place trades, close trades, and access the help menu. HotKeys can be customized by going to the Tools menu and then selecting the Options option.
13. One-Click Trading
One-Click trading is a feature that allows users to trade currencies and other financial instruments with just one click. One-Click Trading can be accessed by going to the Tools menu and then selecting the Options option. We cannot stress enough how useful this tool is when you use it properly.
14. Printing the Trading Statement
The trading statement is a document that contains all the information about your trades. The trading statement can be used to track your progress and to identify trends and patterns. The trading statement can be printed by going to the File menu and then selecting the Print option.
15. Saving the Trading Statement
The trading statement can be saved by going to the File menu and then selecting the Save As option. The trading statement can be saved in a variety of different formats, such as PDF, Excel, and CSV. The trading statement can also be emailed by going to the File menu and then selecting the Email option.
The Bottom Line
Best MetaTrader is a powerful tool that can be used to trade currencies and other financial instruments. Best MetaTrader provides users with a range of different features and tools that can be used to trade effectively. These tips and tricks can help you make the most out of Best MetaTrader. Try it out today! | https://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/advice/15-tips-and-tricks-to-make-the-most-out-of-best-metatrader-4/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
By Greg Baum
Goalkicking godfather Peter Hudson sees no reason why a future Buddy Franklin can’t kick 100 goals in a season and 1000 goals in a career.
No one has kicked a century since Franklin for Hawthorn in 2008 and last week, when he became the fifth player to reach 1000 career goals, there was a consensus that it was a feat never to be repeated. Hudson asks ‘why not?’
“You’ve got a bloke playing at the moment who in one year kicked 100 goals and 70 or 80 behinds,” Hudson said. “He’s had 180 shots in a year, which to me says that when the next Buddy Franklin or Gary Ablett or Jason Dunstall comes along, who’s to say they can’t kick 150?”
“I’d give anything to see somebody (else) come along and kick 1000 goals in my lifetime. I don’t believe for one minute that nobody could ever do it again.”
Hudson thinks it’s cyclic. He notes that no one kicked a century between Essendon’s John Coleman in 1952 and himself in 1968. A free-scoring period followed almost until the end of the century. Since Tony Lockett in 1998, only Franklin has kicked 100.
“People say the game’s played differently today,” Hudson said. “But every so often a Ben Brown will bob up and kick a bagful. Buddy could kick 10 or 12 on a given day. The thing that makes me chuckle inwardly is that, while the game might have changed, the grounds are better than they used to be 40 or 50 years ago. Those sort of things count.”
Hudson disagrees that full-backs have more tricks now. “I don’t think so. I can remember driving home before mobile phones thinking there was a phone ringing.” he said. “I’d been hit in the back of the ear. You can’t hit blokes in the ear any more, and you can’t chop their arms.”
Statistically, the unorthodox Hudson was the best goalkicker of all, averaging 5.64 in 129 games for the Hawks. Coleman averaged 5.48 in his meagre 98 games for Essendon. Lockett, who leads the aggregate with 1360 goals, averaged 4.84.
Hudson is still an aficionado of goalkicking, but won’t rank the five 1000-plus men. “Lockett was technically almost perfect,” he said. “Jason Dunstall was the hardest worker. I loved watching Doug Wade play when I was at the other end of the ground. Gary Ablett was sensational. Everyone loved watching him.
“I was thrilled to bits when Buddy got his 1000. I like his presence on the field. He looks the part, and when he does something brilliant, it’s super brilliant. He’s got the score on the board. It’s hard to fault him, really.”
Hudson, 76, is an undying footy fan. “I love it. I often say I’d watch it eight nights a week if it was on television. The skills are so good,” he said.
“The only thing I didn’t like about the game was when they kicked backwards. We went through that period of a year or two when they kicked backwards. But they fixed that. You don’t see it so much any more.
“I always thought they should have paid a free kick if you got the ball and kicked it backwards at all.”
Remarkably, no-one had written a biography of Hudson until this week, when Dan Eddy’s A Football Genius was launched.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter. | https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/afl/grand-dreams-goalkicking-godfather-peter-hudson-says-there-are-tons-to-come-20220331-p5a9qt.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_sport | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
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Club Templates and Forms A set of safeguarding related templates, forms and resources for Clubs. Child Safety - Club Checklist Travel Approval Form Guidelines for Transporting Children & Young People Overnight Football Activities Guidance Inclusive Clubs, Leagues & Associations Safe Culture and Safe People - Why Safeguarding is Important | https://www.afl.com.au/clubhelp/safeguarding-children/templates-forms | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
Judge approves NFL concussion deal amended over ‘race-norming’
A new plan finalized on Friday will allow retired Black NFL players who were denied money for dementia claims to resubmit those claims and potentially tap into a concussion settlement distributed by the league.
A Philadelphia judge approved the plan via an order filed on Friday, The Associated Press reported. It could give thousands of retired Black football players the chance to get a roughly $600,000 relief payment via the NFL’s $1 billion settlement account for concussions and related injuries.
The NFL had been accused of systemic racism over its use of so-called race-norming in its dementia testing, which assumed Black people had lower cognitive scores, thus making it harder to prove symptoms.
Because of the rule, some retired Black players were denied payments despite suffering multiple concussions throughout their careers. About 3 in 10 claims for dementia have been denied, according to the AP.
Kevin Henry, a lineman for eight seasons in the NFL, was denied a relief claim despite suffering from mild to moderate dementia.
“They come out with all these slogans like ‘We care’ and ‘Black Lives Matter,’” Henry told The Hill last year. “And I’m sitting there, like, you’re lying. You’re lying out of your teeth. It’s so painful to sit there and watch, knowing that you know something totally different.”
In October, as outrage grew over the use of race-norming, the NFL said it would halt the practice.
The judge’s decision on Friday finalizes the new concussion settlement agreement.
The NFL has paid out around $800 million through the settlement, and is expected to add another $100 million to the account under the new plan, according to the AP.
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter. | https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/596920-judge-approves-nfl-concussion-deal-amended-over-race-norming/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:09Z |
The Chainsmokers has released the full studio version of their latest single “Everybody Hates Me”. The band premiered this song a month ago when touring Europe. It received good reviews from the fans who instantly wanted a studio version of the song. However, the band was busy with their concerts and took almost a month to give us the full studio version of their latest single. The studio version came out today on all digital platforms.
“Everybody Hates Me” seems like a one-off single for the band to stay relevant in 2018. It follows up on “Sick Boy” and “You Owe Me”, being the third single from band’s upcoming album. So far, it’s been the best song so far that we’ve heard from this upcoming album. If you haven’t heard it before, it’s time you listen to this studio version. It’s really good and I feel like ‘hit’ is written all over it.
The Chainsmokers’ previous singles from the 2018 album failed to make an impression. They didn’t go well with the fans and failed to perform at the charts. The reason behind this failure was easy to guess. Both “Sick Boy” and “You Owe Me” weren’t the kind of songs we were expecting from the band. They didn’t promote band’s identity and failed to impress anyone. However, this new single “Everybody Hates Me” is more like The Chainsmokers single we expect. It’s got a crazy beat and some meaningful lyrics. I’m sure this song will perform on the charts and allow the band to get back to their comfort zone. Give it a listen below. | http://all-noise.co.uk/new-single-review-everybody-hates-me-by-the-chainsmokers-listen-to-studio-version/28627/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:10Z |
Lois Beverly Herling (nee Bass), of Baltimore, passed away on March 25. She was 86. She is survived by her children, Barry Herling, Wendi (Daniel) Abramowitz and Laurie (Mark) Van Grack; sister, Annette (Irvin) Blass; and grandchildren, Jordan Herling, Marli Abramowitz, Joshua Abramowitz, Remy Van Grack (Maya Osterman) and Austin Van Grack. Lois was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jerry Herling; and parents, Leah and Phillip Bass.
Contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 1250 24th St. NW, Washington, DC 20037. | https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/lois-beverly-herling/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:11Z |
BANGKOK (AP) — A report by the World Wildlife Fund shows illegal purchases of wildlife online are growing in Myanmar in a threat both to public health and to endangered species.
The report released Friday found that enforcement of bans on such transactions has weakened amid political turmoil following a 2021 military takeover.
The number of such dealings rose 74% over a year earlier to 11,046, nearly all of them involving sales of live animals. For the 173 species traded, 54 are threatened with global extinction, the report said.
Researchers identified 639 Facebook accounts belonging to wildlife traders. The largest online trading group had more than 19,000 members and dozens of posts per week, it said.
The animals bought and sold included elephants, bears and gibbons, Tibetan antelope, critically endangered pangolins and an Asian giant tortoise. The most popular were various species of monkeys, often bought as pets.
Most of the animals advertised for sale were taken from the wild. They also included civets, which along with pangolins have been identified as potential vectors in the spread of diseases such as SARS and COVID-19.
Shaun Martin, who heads the WWF's Asia-Pacific regional cybercrime project, said monitoring of the online wildlife trade shows different species being kept close together, sometimes in the same cage.
“With Asia’s track record as a breeding ground for many recent zoonotic diseases, this sharp uptick in online trade of wildlife in Myanmar is extremely concerning,” he said.
The unregulated trade in wild species and resulting interactions between wild species and humans raise the risks of new and possibly vaccine-resistant mutations of illnesses such as the COVID-19 that could evolve undetected in non-human hosts into more dangerous variants of disease, experts say.
COVID-19 is one of many diseases traced back to animals. The killing and sale of what is known as bushmeat in Africa was thought to be a source for Ebola. Bird flu likely came from chickens at a market in Hong Kong in 1997. Measles is believed to have evolved from a virus that infected cattle.
“Illegal wildlife trade is a serious concern from the point of view of biodiversity preservation and conservation and its potential impact on health security," said Mary Elizabeth G. Miranda, an expert on zoonotic diseases and illness and CEO of the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation in the Philippines.
Social media and other online platforms have joined a worldwide effort to crack down on the thriving trade in birds, reptiles, mammals and animal parts. In Myanmar, much of the trade in wildlife is through Facebook, which as a member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking online has taken action to block or remove accounts of people engaged in such transactions.
But as is true elsewhere, new accounts often pop up just as soon as old ones are shut down, hindering enforcement, the report noted. Easy online access to the animals also is driving up demand, worsening the problem.
Discussions of purchases of protected species often took place in open Facebook groups, suggesting that such dealings remain “largely risk-free,” the report said. Since payments and deliveries often are done using messenger apps, controlling the problem is doubly difficult.
Highlighting the lack of enforcement, people in the illegal wildlife trade in Myanmar often use rudimentary methods of moving the animals and animal products around — with buses being the usual form of transport.
The study by WWF in Myanmar focused on trade online of animals and other creatures inside the country, though there were some imports from neighboring Thailand, mainly of birds such as hornbills and salmon crested cockatoos, and of crocodiles, to India.
Some deals might involve animals or parts being sent into China, it said.
The conservation group said it plans future studies to better understand Myanmar’s role in the global trade in endangered species.
Credit: James Morgan
Credit: James Morgan
Credit: Robert Patterson
Credit: Robert Patterson
Credit: James Morgan
Credit: James Morgan
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Michele Depraz
Credit: Michele Depraz | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/wwf-report-says-online-wildlife-trade-on-rise-in-myanmar/UAH7JMF4CNB4ZDBMLGKNBFA7JA/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:11Z |
SCAPPOOSE, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a man was shot and killed Thursday by two police officers in Scappoose, Oregon.
Columbia County officials confirmed the officer-involved shooting on social media. In a tweet, officials said that “no officers were injured and the incident is currently under investigation.”
A witness told KOIN-TV that he was dropping his wife off at work when he saw a man show up to the towing facility next door. The witness, Erik Tyler, said the man appeared angry and a fight escalated between the man and employees until the workers told him they would call the police.
Police arrived and Tyler said he heard them yell at the man to drop his weapon and the man didn’t comply.
Detective Shannon Wilde with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which has taken over the investigation, told reporters police responded to the “disturbance” at Grumpy’s Towing just before 10 a.m. During the incident, Wilde said both a sheriff's deputy and an Oregon State Police trooper fired their weapons, killing the man.
Wilde did not identify the deceased man or specify whether he was armed at the time but said he was wanted for an unrelated “violent felony.”
Wilde also declined to comment on the circumstances that led up to the shooting. | https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/Police-Officers-shoot-kill-man-in-Scappoose-17049819.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:12Z |
UFP Industries (NASDAQ:UFPI – Get Rating) and West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG – Get Rating) are both mid-cap construction companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, risk and analyst recommendations.
Profitability
This table compares UFP Industries and West Fraser Timber’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
This table compares UFP Industries and West Fraser Timber’s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
West Fraser Timber has higher revenue and earnings than UFP Industries. West Fraser Timber is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than UFP Industries, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
81.7% of UFP Industries shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 71.2% of West Fraser Timber shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.7% of UFP Industries shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Dividends
UFP Industries pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. West Fraser Timber pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. UFP Industries pays out 9.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. West Fraser Timber pays out 3.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. West Fraser Timber is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for UFP Industries and West Fraser Timber, as reported by MarketBeat.
UFP Industries presently has a consensus target price of $91.80, suggesting a potential upside of 18.97%. West Fraser Timber has a consensus target price of $134.93, suggesting a potential upside of 63.69%. Given West Fraser Timber’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe West Fraser Timber is more favorable than UFP Industries.
Summary
West Fraser Timber beats UFP Industries on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.
UFP Industries Company Profile (Get Rating)
UFP Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets wood and wood-alternative products in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through Retail, Industrial, and Construction segments. The Retail segment offers preserved and unpreserved dimensional lumber; and outdoor living products, including wood and wood composite decking and related accessories, decorative lawn, garden, craft, and hobby products. This segment serves national home center retailers, and retail-oriented regional and contractor-oriented lumberyards under the ProWood, ProWood FR, Deckorators, UFP-Edge, Outdoor Essentials, Dimensions, and Handprint trademarks. The Industrial segment provides pallets, specialty crates, wooden boxes, and other containers and products that are used for packaging, shipping, and material handling applications, as well as various other protective packaging applications. The construction segment offers roof trusses, cut and shaped lumbers, plywood, oriented strand boards, and dimensional lumbers; and engineered wood components, including roof and floor trusses, wall panels, I-joists, and lumber packages, as well as distributes siding, electrical, and plumbing products to factory-built housing and recreational vehicle customers. This segment also engages in the manufacture of components; design, manufacture, and supply of wood forms and related products to set or form concrete for structures, such as parking garages, stadiums, and bridges, as well as provides farming services for builders. It also offers interior fixtures, millwork, and casework for retail, commercial, and other structures; and structural wood packaging, other packing materials, and original equipment manufacturer components for various industries. The company was formerly known as Universal Forest Products, Inc. and changed its name to UFP Industries, Inc. in April 2020. UFP Industries, Inc. was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
West Fraser Timber Company Profile (Get Rating)
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., a diversified wood products company, engages in manufacturing, selling, marketing, and distributing lumber, engineered wood products, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, and other residuals and renewable energy. It offers spruce-pine-fir and southern yellow pine lumber, treated wood products, medium density fiberboard panels and plywood, oriented strand board, and laminated veneer lumber wood products. The company also provides northern bleached softwood Kraft pulp and bleached chemical thermo-mechanical pulp used to produce various paper products, including printing and writing papers, specialty grades, and various tissue products. It sells its products to major retail chains, contractor supply yards, and wholesalers, as well as industrial customers for further processing or as components for other products in Canada, the United States, China, Europe, Asia, and other countries. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. was founded in 1955 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.
Receive News & Ratings for UFP Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UFP Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. | https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2022/03/31/ufp-industries-nasdaqufpi-vs-west-fraser-timber-nysewfg-head-to-head-analysis.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:12Z |
Company Aggressively Pursuing Robust Enterprise Opportunity and Expansion into New Product Lines to Increase Gross Bookings per Vehicle
MANCHESTER, England–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wejo Group Limited (NASDAQ: WEJO) (“Wejo” or “the Company”), a global leader in cloud and software analytics for connected, electric, and autonomous mobility, today announced financial results and Operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.
Richard Barlow, Chief Executive Officer and Founder said, “We are extremely excited about our Company’s progress in 2021. In addition to completing our public listing, we added several OEMs and Tier 1 relationships, and developed platforms and applications that add significant value to our customers’ businesses. Our value proposition is resonating in the marketplace, driven by several recently launched ground-breaking services, including Wejo Neural Edge and an EV Infrastructure Operating System solution that will help accelerate EV adoption. In 2022, we will deliver on our revenue targets by moving into several new product lines, expanding our presence with major enterprises, and developing global solutions for current challenges. We believe our performance in 2021 and our expected performance in 2022 positions us well to execute our long-term strategic plan in an expanding Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM). All our business activities are focused around fulfilling our mission of transforming data from connected vehicles, EVs and AVs into rich insights powered by our Smart Mobility for GoodTM products and solutions.”
Full-Year 2021 Financial Highlights
- Net Revenue increased 92% to $2.6 million, driven by a 29% increase in total monetizable vehicles on platform to over 16 million vehicles, combined with a 113% increase in customers. Much of the Company’s success was driven by the Traffic Management product line in Wejo Marketplace Data Solutions. In the fourth quarter, revenue growth was also supported by two significant Wejo Software and Cloud Solutions contracts awarded, with most of the revenue from those contracts expected to be recognized in future periods.
- Net loss was $218 million, up 261% from 2020, reflecting higher expenses related to increased headcount, higher stock compensation expenses, increased cloud and development related expenses, increased marketing costs and public company costs, along with transaction expenses.
- Adjusted EBITDA loss of $68 million, up 168% from 2020, resulting from higher spending on technology and product development, OEM onboarding, geographic expansion and public company requirements.
- Gross Bookings (new business, defined as the total value of new customer deals signed in the current period) increased 105% to $8.4 million, representing robust growth in new customers and growth in our base of recurring revenue for future periods.
- Gross Billings (cash from contracts, defined as billed amounts to customers in the period) increased 66% to $6.3 million and demonstrates the growth in cash generated from customer activity.
- Annual Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) as of the end of 2021 increased 73% to $4.5 million, reflecting the shift in focus to subscription models for the Company’s products, as well as the expansion of relationships with existing customers. We calculate ARR by taking the gross Monthly Recurring Revenue (“MRR”) for the last month of the reporting period and multiplying it by 12. MRR for each month is calculated by aggregating revenue from customers with contracts with more than 4 months in duration and includes recurring software licenses, data licenses, and subscription agreements.
- Total Contract Value (“TCV”), defined as new and existing contracts signed to-date, increased 68% to $20.5 million through end of 2021 as Wejo launched new products, added more enterprise customers, and contracts signed in Software & Cloud Solutions. Some of our leading new customers include Microsoft, Parsons, ESRI, Geotab ITS, and Xouba.
- Generated $0.75 Gross Bookings per vehicle, up 69% over 2020.
Fourth-Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights (Compared to Fourth Quarter 2020)
- Net Revenue increased 180% to $1.4 million.
- Gross Bookings increased 248% to $3.1 million.
- Gross Billings increased 57% to $2.2 million.
Business Highlights
Over the past year, Wejo has notably:
- Launched Wejo Software and Cloud Solutions with the signing of its first major OEM SaaS deal, focused on developing and managing data quality and privacy processes.
- Secured a Committed Equity Facility of up to $100 million, subject to price and volume fluctuations, to make key investments in the business, including OEM onboarding, geographic expansion, and deployments of new products and services.
- Expanded Wejo’s access to data, through relationships with 22 OEMs, Tier 1s, and fleet management companies.
- Signed data licensing deals with major industry leaders in mapping and logistics, including Microsoft, ESRI and one of the largest global online retailers.
- Launched Wejo Studio, a web-based platform that analyzes data from millions of vehicles and, in near real-time, translates those data sets into unique traffic and journey insights like leveraging access to 11 million crash events. This is a seamless, visual and virtual platform that private and public sector organizations can use to improve driver safety and transform their entire smart mobility strategy.
- Received the ARcGis Marketplace Award for providing insights and analytics to support ESRI Geographic Information System tools enabling customers to accelerate decision-making around infrastructure deployment.
John Maxwell, Chief Financial Officer, said “Wejo’s ability to raise up to $100 million through a committed equity facility reflects confidence in Wejo’s market-leading position and ability to achieve its mission for the benefit of its customers. The expected proceeds from this facility bolsters the Company’s liquidity position, and we believe when combined with the expected proceeds from the Apollo forward purchase agreement and current cash on the balance sheet will collectively provide us with sufficient cash to fund our business through the end of 2023. These funding mechanisms are important to building our business with the talent, technology and OEM relationships that support our strong pipeline of new products and customers and reinforces our position to accelerate our growth in our markets.”
Key Strategic Priorities for 2022
Wejo is focused on several major objectives in 2022 that are expected to drive significant value, including:
- Expanding to new product lines – In 2022, Wejo expects its Traffic Management product line to increase significantly and will be supplemented by the launch of up to five new product lines, including Remote Diagnostics Services, Audience and Media Measurement, End-to-End Insurance, Fleet Management and Roadside Assistance. These new product lines and the expansion of Traffic Management will increase revenue per vehicle on platform.
- Land and expand with enterprise customers – Wejo is focused on targeting new enterprise customers and expanding relationships with existing enterprise customers. The Company expects that large customers will be able to utilize Wejo’s products and services across multiple parts of their businesses, especially as the Company expands into new product lines.
- Creating solutions that accelerate EV/AV adoption – Wejo co-launched the EV Infrastructure operating system to help facilitate EV adoption. We anticipate that the Wejo Neural Edge platform (also known as ADEPT) will enable vehicle-to-vehicle communications that are critical for the widespread deployment of autonomous vehicles. Wejo is positioning its software and cloud platform to be a critical component of the software communications stack of the EV/AV industry.
Outlook for 2022
Wejo is providing the following guidance for full-year 2022 on Vehicles on Platform, Net Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA:
Vehicles on Platform: We expect to end 2022 with approximately 27 to 32 million vehicles on our Neural Edge platform, and we expect to continue to increase our Gross Bookings per vehicle on platform.
Net Revenue: Wejo expects to generate a base of Net Revenue of $10 million, which at this level would represent a 285% increase over 2021 reported net revenue. The Company’s base net revenue estimate is primarily driven by our Marketplace Data Solutions offerings and reflects contracted customers and our pipeline of new business in late stages of closing. This base also includes completed customer wins in Software and Cloud Solutions. Our base Net Revenue guidance does not include new product lines expected to be launched later in 2022 or our pipeline of new customer opportunities that are now in late stages of closing.
Wejo currently has a significant pipeline of customer opportunities in both Wejo Software and Cloud Solutions as well as Wejo Marketplace Data Solutions. Timing of revenue recognition cannot be determined until these new deals are finalized, so we have left them out of our base Net Revenue projections of $10 million. Irrespective of the timing of the revenue recognition from the pipeline, we expect our revenue base will grow significantly as we exit 2022, and we will see strong growth in Gross Bookings and Total Contract Value.
Adjusted EBITDA: Wejo expects Adjusted EBITDA loss to be in the range of a $110 million to $120 million, reflecting continued spending in technology and product development, OEM onboarding, and geographic expansion.
Wejo continues to invest in its exciting market and related growth opportunities, and as such, any additional needs beyond the Committed Equity Facility, Apollo Forward Purchase Agreement and available cash on hand, and timing of such capital to fund our investments, will be assessed in the future.
Wejo’s financial outlook is driven by the Company’s ability to commercialize its core data asset into discrete end use markets, which we refer to as Wejo Marketplace Data Solutions and Wejo Cloud and Software Solutions, described in more detail in our Comprehensive Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we are filing with the SEC later today (the “Form 10-K”).
Restatement
As further discussed in our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2022, and in our Form 10-K, the Company identified valuation errors in the consolidated financial statements of Wejo Limited (“Legacy Wejo”) related to the derivative liabilities that were bifurcated from Legacy Wejo’s Convertible Loan Notes (“CLNs”), which were converted to common shares of Wejo Group Limited on November 18, 2021. These errors were related to the misinterpretation of certain conversion terms of the CLN agreement and using the wrong output from the valuation report, which led to the fair value of derivative liabilities being valued incorrectly. As a consequence, the valuation of Legacy Wejo’s ordinary shares was affected, resulting in a misstatement of the beneficial conversion feature of the CLNs recorded in Additional Paid in Capital (“APIC”) as well as the fair value of Advanced Subscription Agreements (“ASAs”). The financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Affected Period”) will be restated to correct this error. Our Form 10-K includes a correction of this error in the financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, which were included in our initial registration statements on Form S-4 and S-4/A filed in connection with the Company’s initial business combination. These corrections have no impact on net revenue, loss from operations, Adjusted EBITDA or Net cash used in operations.
Webcast Details:
Wejo will host a business update call to discuss 2021 results as well as key financial and strategic priorities for 2022 later today at 5:00 pm EST. The call will be hosted by Chief Executive Officer, Richard Barlow and Chief Financial Officer, John T. Maxwell, and can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of Wejo’s website at www.wejo.com/investors/investor-relations.
Investors and other stakeholders should note that Wejo currently announces material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, and webcasts. In the future, Wejo will continue to use these channels to distribute material information about the Company and may also utilize its website and/or various social media sites to communicate vital information about the Company, key personnel, latest brands and services, trends, novel marketing campaigns, corporate initiatives, and other matters. Information that the Company posts on its website or on social media channels could be deemed material; therefore, the Company encourages investors, the media, our customers, business partners and other stakeholders interested in Wejo to review the information posted on its website, as well as the following social media channels: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Wejo
Wejo Group Limited is a global leader in cloud and software analytics for connected, electric, and autonomous mobility, revolutionizing the way we live, work and travel by transforming and interpreting historic and real-time vehicle data. The Company enables smarter mobility by organizing trillions of data points from 16 million vehicles, of which 11.8 million were active on the platform during the prior six months transmitting data in near real-time, and over 64.8 billion journeys globally as of December 31, 2021, across multiple brands, makes and models, and then standardizing and enhancing those streams of data on a vast scale. Wejo partners with ethical, like-minded companies and organizations to turn that data into insights that unlock value for consumers. With the most comprehensive and trusted data, information, and intelligence, Wejo is creating a smarter, safer, more sustainable world for all. Founded in 2014, Wejo employs more than 300 people and has offices in Manchester, UK and in regions where Wejo does business around the world. For more information, visit: www.wejo.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this release, including statements regarding the Company’s future operating results and financial position, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations, expected funding mechanism, pipeline, and our future SEC filings, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s business, the economy and other future conditions.
Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “believes,” “predicts,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, without limitation, those factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors set forth in our Form 10-K, which we are filing with the SEC later today, and future filings with the SEC.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators
This release includes Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as well as key metrics such as Total Contract Value, Annual Recurring Revenue, Gross Billings, Gross Bookings and Monetizable vehicles on platform. Important information regarding such measures is contained in the definitions included in this release and in Appendix I, the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the closest comparable GAAP measure, Net Loss. The Company and its management believe that these non-GAAP measure and key performance indicators are useful to investors in measuring the comparable results of the Company period-over-period. Wejo does not reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measure, net income loss, due to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections and/or certain information not being ascertainable or accessible. Wejo is unable to provide guidance for this reconciling item because we cannot determine its probable significance, as certain items are outside of our control and cannot be reasonably predicted due to the fact that these items could vary significantly from period to period. Accordingly, reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP financial measure is not available without unreasonable effort.
Contacts
Investors:
Tahmin Clarke
investor.relations@wejo.com
Idalia Rodriguez
Arbor Advisory Group
investor.relations@wejo.com | https://www.01net.it/wejo-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2021-results-provides-2022-outlook/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:13Z |
(The Center Square) – A California bill that would have required parents or guardians of schoolchildren to disclose whether any firearms are in the home failed to pass through a policy committee in the State Legislature this week.
Senate Bill 906, introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, failed to advance out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, with only two members voting to advance the measure.
Portantino had promised to amend the bill significantly if it passed through the committee, pledging to narrow his law to exclude elementary schools, among other things. But that wasn’t enough to overcome opposition from the majority of the committee, with several lawmakers saying the outcome could have been different if Portantino’s bill had focused more on student mental health.
“We all want to ensure schools are safe and to prevent horrific school shootings – there’s no question there,” the committee’s chairwoman Sen. Connie Leyva said. “I believe a better approach is by addressing student mental health.”
Under SB 906, parents would be required to tell schools whether there were guns present in the home and disclose details about storage and accessibility by the pupil. The bill would also require that school officials, in conjunction with law enforcement, search a student’s backpack or on-campus property if there is a credible threat of violence.
Portantino told lawmakers Wednesday that his bill would help ensure school safety amid a rise in shootings on school campuses across the nation. He told the committee that since 1970, California has seen more than 160 school shootings, saying that his bill would increase “accountability and awareness” to prevent future tragedies.
“Every student, every teacher, every administrator, every staff member and every visitor to a school and every volunteer should go to work on a campus in the morning and safely come home in the afternoon,” Portantino said.
The bill faced opposition from the National Rifle Association and the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA). Roy Griffith, a legislative director with the CRPA, told lawmakers that the bill “lacks enforceability” and invades parents’ privacy.
“This is not how we’re going to make California safer,” Griffith said. “What’s next? Having parents report swimming pools in their backyards and prescription drugs in their medicine cabinets?”
Other committee members in opposition included Sen. Brian Dahle, R-Bieber, who said he could not vote to pass the bill because it “infringes on gun owners’ rights.”
Two Senators on the committee, Democrat Senators Richard Pan and Steve Glazer, voted to advance the measure on Thursday. During his comments, Glazer said “the status quo is unacceptable.”
“After all these tragedies, we always say our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been hurt and we pledge to try to do something to make it not happen again,” Glazer, D-Contra Costa, said Wednesday.
California has several restrictions in place when it comes to guns, including a limit on ammunition that magazines can carry and a ban on firearms characterized as assault weapons. Many gun manufacturers craft "California-compliant" versions of rifles since many aren't legal in the state. | https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/california-bill-to-require-parents-to-tell-schools-about-gun-ownership-fails/article_3863446e-b135-11ec-9da5-771efb6a1590.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:13Z |
UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar’s house was destroyed in a fire on Monday in Henderson, Nev., according to a report Thursday on TMZ.
The celebrity news site also posted a short video that shows a raging blaze inside a sand-colored home. Bonnar’s wife, Andrea, reportedly posted on Facebook that “we have lost everything” in the fire.
Bonnar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A public information officer for the Henderson Fire Department released a statement to MMA Fighting on the TMZ report.
“On March 28 at 2:40p.m., the Henderson Fire Department responded to a house fire near Galleria Drive and Cadence Vista Drive,” the statement read. “Upon arrival, flames and smoke were visible from the exterior of the home. Due to the high winds and condition of the fire, HFD upgraded their response to a 2-alarm fire. The fire was knocked down at 3:48p.m. No transports or injuries were reported. 2 adults, one juvenile and four dogs were displaced.”
The fire department spokesperson, Madeleine Skains, declined to give specific address information on the fire but said it took place on the 200 block of Via Luna Rose Ct. in Henderson. Property records for Stephan and Andrea Bonnar appear to match the location of the fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, Skains said.
Stephan Bonnar, 44, made headlines this past year after he posted a video of a heated confrontation with staff at a hospital in Henderson. He later told MMA Fighting that he discovered he was suffering from a severe staph infection that required intravenous antibiotics and left him unable to walk unassisted. The infection arose after he suffered a back injury while pro wrestling at an event in Las Vegas; he said the health scare motivated him to retire from competition and seek a new career in medical equipment sales.
Bonnar, who was voted into the Hall of Fame for his battle with Forrest Griffin in the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 1, retired from MMA competition in 2015. | https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/31/23005607/report-ufc-hall-of-famer-stephan-bonnars-house-destroyed-in-fire | 2022-04-01T01:00:14Z |
Indiana Voter Registration Ends April 4th Early Voting Begins April 5th
Local Sources – Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan is reminding Hoosiers of two upcoming dates regarding voting. Indiana’s voter registration deadline is April 4th. Registering to vote and checking your status for the 2022 primary can be done online at http://IndianaVoters.com or by visiting your local county...
www.witzamfm.com | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556614473695/indiana-voter-registration-ends-april-4th-early-voting-begins-april-5th | 2022-04-01T01:00:13Z |
Let’s give children peaceful elections, for they deserve it
What you need to know:
- Children are the most affected by election-related tensions, conflicts, violence and displacements.
- Let’s act responsibly, so that our actions are aimed at protecting the child from harm — physical, psychological or emotional.
Like every five years, Kenya will hold a general election on August 9. Since Independence, the country was considered an island of peace in a sea of conflict. But the coveted image was shattered by an outbreak of ethnic conflict in Rift Valley in 1991, when a pluralist political system was restored. Multi-party elections were due in a year.
Conflict and displacement of populations marked the beginning of politically instigated ethnic violence used by the political elite to manipulate elections. The 1992 elections were heavily ethicised with political parties aligning to tribal affiliations. Thousands of people were killed and more displaced.
In the next elections, of 1997, focus shifted to Coast Province. The ruling elite introduced the devolution agenda to mobilise the indigenous community against ‘foreigners’ in a orgy that left 104 people dead and more than 10,000 displaced. In the run up to the 2002 polls — which ended Kanu’s long rule — a vigilante group, “Jeshi la Mzee”, unleashed terror on opponents of the ruling party, its alleged financier.
The re-election of President Mwai Kibaki in 2007 saw ethnic violence break out again, mainly in Rift Valley, with 1,300 people killed and 650,000 displaced. The 2013 elections were hailed by international observers as “peaceful” and “successful” but many Kenyans describing their experience as one of “tense calm” and “unstable peace”. They said the long-standing grievances that fuelled the 2007-2008 election violence were merely suppressed.
In 2017, a Kenya Human Rights Commission report indicated that 37 people, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed in post-election violence.
Post-election violence
Children are the most affected by election-related tensions, conflicts, violence and displacements. They suffer socially, materially, psychologically and physically and even killed. A study by Ann T. Skinner, of the Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy, after the intense 2007 presidential poll violence, shows children who were exposed to the violence showed increased delinquent and aggressive behaviours — like problem behaviours as bullying, vandalism, stealing and skipping school.
A 2005 World Bank report indicates that conflict has a devastating impact on education. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children stipulate that governments must protect children from violence, abuse and neglect by caregivers.
We must ensure that children come out of the elections safe, protected, happy and enlightened about their rights and position in our country. That will make them better agents of change and inspirational leaders.
Let’s act responsibly, so that our actions are aimed at protecting the child from harm — physical, psychological or emotional. Politicians must desist from using youth as agents of violence and hatred.
Kenyans should embrace interventions towards peaceful elections while institutions managing elections, like IEBC, must ensure transparency.
Mr Odhiambo is national director, SOS Children’s Villages Kenya. [email protected] | https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/give-children-peaceful-elections-they-deserve-it-3767210 | 2022-04-01T01:00:14Z |
Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest superhero is not, in the conventional sense, either "super" or a "hero," but he does have an unorthodox ailment and a weird skill-set to separate him from mere mortals. His name is Morbius, and while watching his origin story, you may get the feeling that somewhere in the cinematic multiverse, wires got crossed.
The film begins with a helicopter, transporting a cage to the sort of mist-shrouded isle you half expect King Kong to be inhabiting. But Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) is looking to capture smaller game as he approaches the mouth of a cave, hobbling with difficulty on two crutch-like canes.
Positioning himself behind the wires of the cage, he slices open the palm of his hand and, as a roar of batwings echoes from inside the cave, murmurs to the copter pilot "if you're gonna run, do it now."
A rare blood disease treated with a bit o' bat
It's tempting to say "consider yourself warned," but the film's first hour or so, while unremarkable, is decently crafted.
Born with a rare blood disease, Michael Morbius has spent his entire life working on two things — a cure, and origami paper-folding. Natch, it occurs to him to fold together bat and human DNA.
Because the FDA would be unlikely to approve human trials, he and his beautiful co-researcher Martine (Adria Arjona) head in a cargo ship for international waters off the coast of Long Island in the company of eight thuggish mercenaries — think bloodbags — and once Morbius has been injected with bat DNA, it's just a matter of time before things go vampiric.
Let it be said that some side-effects from dabbling in "chiropter-y" are less ghastly than others. Bat DNA evidently gives you great cheekbones and abs to go with increased strength and speed.
Less salutary effects include new fangs that sprout from his gums with decades of decay baked in, and claws that erupt from his fingers pre-filthed. I mean, sure...why not? Except this is a man whose hair has the kind of sheen that comes from brushing it three times a day.
One other thing: he now needs to drink human blood every six hours. Happily, on his way to declining a Nobel Prize, Dr. Morbius invented "artificial blood," though that only fools his system for a while.
Color coded smoke effects for a Jekyll and his Hyde
If you're expecting a conventional Marvel movie, you should be aware going in that what Director Daniel Espinoza and his writers have come up with is more a horror flick with Marvel bells and whistles.
That means Leto's Morbius gets purplish smoke effects to go with those fang-baring snarls as he's riding air currents in subway tunnels, while the similarly afflicted Hyde to his Jekyll – a schoolboy chum played as an adult by an amusingly hopped-up Matt Smith, gets blue-ish vapor trails and snappier lines.
But there isn't much tension to their story. Or logic. At one point, Morbius overhears some counterfeiters passing fake $100s, and commandeers their printing press to make what appears to be an artificial-blood machine — because the technologies for fake-bills and fake-blood match up? Maybe that works better in a comic book.
Bat guys everywhere you look
Speaking of which, when the DC Extended Universe first announced that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would play the lead in The Batman in their corner of the superhero multiverse, it seemed like a nice inside joke — from Vampire-teen to Bat-man. But now that the Marvelverse has Leto going full Dracula, it seems as if the casting maybe could've gone the other way 'round.
Leto is as persuasively haunted by the dark side of vigilantism as Pattinson was, and as a result of corporate positioning, is maybe more determined to avoid being a villain. Not unlike Venom, Morbius was a bad guy when he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comics, back in the 1970's. He needs to be at least an anti-hero now, if a franchise is to be built around him.
But bad guy/bat guy...who's to say? As the trailers reveal, another DC bat-guy, Michael Keaton, shows up in his non-batty baddie Marvel persona Adrian Toomes, just to mess with the heads of anyone trying to keep cinematic universes straight.
But bloodlines will have to be clarified in more robust "Morbius" episodes to come, this origin story being merely adequate, and by Marvel standards, slightly anemic.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/2022-03-31/jared-leto-is-marvels-bat-man-in-the-vampiric-morbius | 2022-04-01T01:00:14Z |
DENVER, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aphelion Aerospace, based in Denver, Colorado is establishing itself as a one-stop-shop for low-cost small satellite integration and on-demand launch operations from practically anywhere around the world. Aphelion announced today that it has received significant investment from strategic investors including The Mercury Group, Founder Advisors, and Richtr Financial Studio. These investments are part of Aphelion's Seed round which the company is running in parallel with their equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine.
Aphelion CEO Miguel Ayala and CTO Matthew Travis indicate that these investments will help them continue pushing forward with the development of their suborbital launch vehicle technology demonstrator. They plan to conduct low-altitude suborbital demonstration launches by the end of the year to prove out their green non-toxic, non-cryogenic propulsion technology in flight.
Based on the caliber and background of their board advisors and investors, it is clear that the Aphelion team is positioning to become a strong player in the space industry. Last year, Aphelion announced that Edward Mango, former Program Manager of the NASA Commercial Crew Transportation Program had joined their board of advisors. Mr. Mango is one of the key NASA leaders behind the success of SpaceX. Aphelion also announced that Kevin Rice, former Director of Business Management at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works had joined their board of advisors. Mr. Rice practically wrote the book on business management for NASA. In addition, Aphelion announced that Geoff Brim, former VP of Product Management at Deutsche Telekom had joined their board of advisors. Mr. Brim evangelized digital transformation, data science, artificial intelligence, and robotics at Deutsche Telekom.
Now come Aphelion's visionary investors. Ben West of The Mercury Group is a US Air Force veteran. Before his years in finance, Ben was an F117A and F16 Crew Chief. He is well aware that military fighter jets use hydrazine in their emergency power units. He knows very well that hydrazine is extremely toxic and thus costly and slow to deal with. He is also aware that other uses of hydrazine include spacecraft propulsion. Hearing that Aphelion had developed a propulsion technology that could essentially replace anything hydrazine powered was music to his ears. Ben feels excited to back Aphelion with investment and plans to continue supporting Aphelion along its journey to bring this new technology to market.
Steven Williams, of Founder Advisors advises Aphelion on market strategy. Along with Steven, the Founder Advisors team provides corporate and business strategy advisory to Aphelion. They are composed of accomplished aerospace and tech entrepreneurs and executives like Steven. Some have spent years in launch vehicle development at companies such as Lockheed Martin. These guys truly understand and value the business model that Aphelion is structuring for bundled small satellite integration and launch services.
James Graham, CEO of Richtr Financial Studio, is an ardent supporter of Aphelion's possibilities. Richtr Financial Studio supports Aphelion with financial and accounting services. They are a powerhouse for startups that are poised for exponential growth.
For more information about Aphelion Aerospace, please visit: https://aphelionaerospace.com
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SOURCE Aphelion Aerospace, Inc. | https://www.nbc12.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/aphelion-aerospace-secures-investment-mercury-group-founder-advisors/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:14Z |
Ondo State Government will always key into any genuine initiative aimed at improving the quality of education and developing the potentials of students towards bringing out the best in them and preparing them for future challenges.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olufemi Agagu FNIVS, made the commitment in Akure while playing host to officials of the National Institute of Democratic and Legislative Studies, Abuja.
The team was in the state to intimate the Commissioner, of the forthcoming National Quiz Competition on Democratic and Legislative Studies among secondary schools students across the country.
Mr. Agagu, who described the initiative as laudable, said the state government was ready to partner with the institute and other Federal Government affiliated agencies in discovering talents among the students and unleashing theIr potentials for the development of the Nation and themselves.
The Commissioner who emphasized that the role of education in nation’s development, especially in a growing democracy, cannot be overemphasize, said the initiative of the institute will go a long way in identifying and developing potentials among the students.
He said the state government has sponsored contingents from both public and private schools in the state to national and international competitions with the aim of bringing out the best in them, adding that they have won trophies for the state.
The leader of the team, Mr Mushood Amuda said the target was to catch the students young while still in secondary schools and stimulating their instincts in Legislative and Democratic matters.
He said the visit was part of sensitization to hint the state government about the activities of the Institute, adding that the quiz competition would be organized at senatorial and zonal levels, while the grand finale would take place in Abuja later in the year.
Mr. Amuda commended the state government for its unrelenting efforts at turning around the face of education in the state through prompt intervention and funding.
The Commissioner was also presented with a souvenir from the Institute of Democratic and Legislative Studies in recognition of the state government’s commitment to developing education in the state.
Olaoluwa Meshack
DDI/Head, Info Unit.
31/03/2022 | https://www.ondoevents.com/archives/38416 | 2022-04-01T01:00:14Z |
Tuukka Rask retired from the NHL in February, but the legendary goaltender may not have finished his run with the Boston Bruins organization.
Rask, speaking to reporters prior to his ceremonial puck drop at TD Garden on Thursday, said he is working to return to the Bruins organization, though it won’t be on the ice.
(Not (returning) on the hockey side, per se,” Rask said, as seen on NESN’s broadcast of the press conference. “I’m going to be like a corporate sponsorship, whatever you want to call me. I’ll be hanging out with the sponsors, golfing, shaking hands in suites and what not, ambassador-type thing.
“We’re going to figure out a better title for me,” Rask added with a smirk.
Rask acknowledged this may be a short-term role, as he has an interest in further developing an off-ice career.
“I was intrigued about the business side of things,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe I’ll get into coaching, maybe not. But for now, I’ll be hanging out with sponsors.”
The 35-year-old was the Bruins goaltender from 2007 to 2022. He became a free agent following the conclusion of the 2020-21 season but did not sign anywhere while recovering from offseason surgery. He returned to the Bruins briefly this winter but ultimately retired due to complications from surgery. | https://nesn.com/2022/03/tuukka-rask-teases-new-position-bruins-organization-after-retirement/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:15Z |
- City of Toronto Social Bond wins Social Bond of the Year, Local Authority/Municipality category – BMO Joint-Lead Manager
- World Bank Sustainability Bond wins Sustainability Bond of the Year, Supranational category – BMO Joint-Lead Manager
- City of Vancouver Sustainability Bond wins Sustainability Bond of the Year, Local Authority/Municipality category – BMO Joint Bookrunner
TORONTO, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The City of Toronto Social Bond, the World Bank Sustainability Bond, and the City of Vancouver Sustainability Bond were recognized today by Environmental Finance's 2022 Bond Awards in the categories of Social Bond of the Year – Local Authority/Municipality, Sustainability Bond of the Year – Supranational, and Sustainability Bond of the Year – Local Authority/Municipality. BMO Financial Group (BMO) acted as Joint-Lead Manager on the City of Toronto and World Bank bond issuances, and Joint Bookrunner on the City of Vancouver Sustainability Bond issuance.
The City of Toronto's Social Bond is the city's second Social Bond, following on their inaugural issue in June 2020 – the first-ever Social Bond from a Canadian Government issuer – which BMO also led. The Social Bond, issued under Toronto's Social Debenture Framework, is part of a program to promote positive socioeconomic outcomes, from affordable housing and access to essential infrastructure and services, to socioeconomic advancement and empowerment.
The World Bank Sustainability Bond is an $8 billion 2-year and 7-year Dual-Tranche Fixed-Rate Global Sustainability Bond launched in April 2021. The World Bank has been issuing sustainable development bonds in the international capital markets for over 70 years to fund programs and activities that achieve a positive impact. BMO is proud to be a joint lead-manager on this issuance. World Bank bonds are aligned with the Sustainability Bond Guidelines published by the International Capital Market Association and support the financing of a combination of green and social projects, programs, and activities.
The inaugural City of Vancouver Sustainability Bond was the first Sustainability Bond from a Canadian governmental issuer. Proceeds of the bond are supporting eligible projects such as green buildings, renewal and upgrade of the main sewer and a fire hall, street and bridge infrastructure, an accessibility program to provide access to essential services, a climate emergency response program and a seawall maintenance program.
"As Joint-Lead Manager we're pleased with the recognition the City of Toronto Social Bond, the World Bank Sustainability Bond, and the City of Vancouver Sustainability Bond have received from Environmental Finance," said Jonathan Hackett, Head, BMO Sustainable Finance. "These transactions are leading examples in sustainable financing that we believe will act as a catalyst to others as they explore social and sustainability labeled financing and BMO is excited to be a leader working with our clients in this space -- one that so closely aligns with our Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good, in business and life."
BMO is a recognized sustainability leader
Carbon neutral in its own operations since 2010, BMO announced its Climate Ambition in March 2021 with a commitment to deploy $300 billion in sustainable lending and underwriting to companies pursuing sustainable outcomes by 2025. BMO is focused on being its clients' lead partner in their transition to a net zero world and, since December 2019, has completed green and sustainability-linked loans for companies in a range of sectors, with targets including decarbonization, diversity & inclusion, and health and safety. To support clients' pursuit of opportunities driven by the increasing momentum of the global economy's shift in production and consumption of energy, in 2021 BMO established a dedicated Energy Transition Group and the BMO Climate Institute.
BMO's leadership on sustainability has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal's 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies in the World, Corporate Knights' Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations, Dow Jones Sustainability Indices World Index, and Ethisphere Institute's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies.
For more information on BMO's commitment to a sustainable future, please visit the bank's latest Sustainability Report. To learn more about sustainable finance at BMO click here. For BMO's climate ambition, visit its Climate page.
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $1.02 trillion as of January 31, 2022, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.
View original content:
SOURCE BMO Financial Group | https://www.fox8live.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/bmo-led-sustainability-social-bonds-recognized-by-environmental-finances-2022-bond-awards/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:15Z |
First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF (NASDAQ:FDNI – Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,600 shares, a decrease of 27.8% from the February 28th total of 13,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 31,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.
Shares of First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF stock traded down $1.45 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $26.01. The company had a trading volume of 4,444 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,917. The company has a 50 day moving average of $28.88 and a 200 day moving average of $35.79. First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF has a 52-week low of $20.59 and a 52-week high of $48.75.
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in FDNI. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group LLC grew its holdings in First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF by 5.1% in the third quarter. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 14,150 shares of the company’s stock worth $568,000 after purchasing an additional 687 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 59,241 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,135,000 after buying an additional 705 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 16,384 shares of the company’s stock worth $657,000 after purchasing an additional 722 shares during the last quarter. Resources Investment Advisors LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Resources Investment Advisors LLC. now owns 60,182 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,169,000 after acquiring an additional 915 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 33,442 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,205,000 after acquiring an additional 2,397 shares during the last quarter.
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Receive News & Ratings for First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. | https://www.wkrb13.com/2022/04/01/first-trust-dow-jones-international-internet-etf-nasdaqfdni-short-interest-down-27-8-in-march.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:16Z |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers passed a measure on Thursday to create a paid family leave program, sending the legislation to Gov. Larry Hogan.
The bill, approved by supermajority votes by Democrats who control the legislature, would enable workers to take up to 12 weeks of partially paid leave for specified personal family circumstances such as caring for a sick relative or having a baby. It would provide up to 24 weeks for a parent, if he or she has a serious health issue in the year of a child's birth.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Sen. Antonio Hayes, a Baltimore Democrat. He thanked supporters who have “come together and really advocated on behalf of Maryland families."
Republicans criticized the measure for failing to spell out how much employees and employers would have to contribute, leaving that for the state's labor department to define later. They said Democrats were rushing to get the bill to the Republican governor just to meet a deadline so lawmakers will still be in session if the bill is vetoed.
“We're pushing this bill as quick as we can to get it upstairs,” said Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Republican, who added: “We don't know the numbers ... this bill is a hot mess.”
Because lawmakers are in the last session of the four-year term, they would not have a chance to override the veto next year if they adjourn before the governor acts on legislation.
The measure would create an insurance pool. Employees and employers would contribute to fund the program. Under the bill, the state’s labor department would set contribution rates to pay for the program. Employers with fewer than 15 employees would not be required to contribute.
The measure also includes job protections to protect employees from retaliation or termination for using the leave.
Seven states and the District of Columbia have paid family and medical leave insurance programs, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington. Colorado and Oregon have approved programs that have not started yet. | https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/Maryland-paid-family-leave-program-bill-passed-to-17049782.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:16Z |
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Albany
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05:55
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09:10
R5 Class Two Handicap
1500m
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, Class 2, Handicap
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, Class 2, Handicap
Prize:
$20,000
1st:
$11,600
2nd:
$4,000
3rd:
$1,800
Track Info:
RAIL - +4m Entire Cutaway applies.
Friday 01 April 2022 08:10AM
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Yes | https://www.racenet.com.au/results/horse-racing/albany-20220401/calcutta-saturday-16th-april-at-arc-handicap-race-5 | 2022-04-01T01:00:16Z |
‘There’s a level of anxiety’: Ricciardo learns to cope with pressures of home grand prix
By Matthew Clayton
Daniel Ricciardo has read the news, scoured social media and heard enough anecdotes from friends to realise this year’s Australian Grand Prix could be the biggest of his Formula One career, but he believes the 2014 event in Melbourne will always stand as his defining home race.
With Albert Park ticket sales at record levels after a dramatic 2021 season, the “Netflix effect” on the sport’s fan base thanks to its Drive to Survive series opening up F1 to a new audience and a three-year gap between grands prix in Melbourne, Ricciardo is itching to take to the grid at a home race for McLaren for the first time, with Melbourne’s 2019 race doubling as his debut for Renault.
The 32-year-old feels the 2014 Melbourne race, where he qualified on the front row of the grid for the first time and finished a superb second before his Red Bull Racing machine was disqualified for breaching a fuel-flow regulation, was the first moment he was considered one of the sport’s premier drivers.
“From what everyone tells me, it feels like this year is going to be big – but for me, 2014 was always the race that felt biggest because I’d just joined Red Bull,” Ricciardo says.
“It was the first race of the season for me and I had a reigning four-time world champion (Sebastian Vettel) as my teammate. They were big stakes because people wanted to know ‘does this guy really have it?’ I wanted to show the team that it wasn’t too much for me, that I could really do this.
“But in terms of the build-up, because Australia hasn’t had a race in so long, they’ve re-done the track and it sounds like the crowd will be huge – 2022 has potential to be something pretty special.”
Ricciardo is well aware of the hoodoo that hangs over home drivers at Albert Park; since Melbourne came on to the grand prix calendar 26 years ago, no local driver has finished on the podium. While McLaren’s early-season struggles in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia before arriving in Melbourne don’t point to that drought ending, he’s learned to cope better with being the centre of attention.
“It’s extremes with Australia because everything is magnified,” he says. “When it’s great, it’s awesome … when it’s bad, it’s way more miserable. In 2019, my race was more or less over after five seconds (after he ran off track and broke his Renault’s front wing) and it wasn’t the most fun day I’ve had.”
Ricciardo admits the pressure of being the sole Australian on the grid for six of his eight grands prix at home has, at times, been difficult to deal with. “It can get to a point where there’s a level of anxiety because of the sheer scale of the attention,” he says.
“It’s quite foreign to get that level of attention, and it can easily get in your head a little bit. I’ve not always done the best job with that, and sometimes it’s best to roll with the punches so you don’t create tension that stops you performing at your best.
“Do you give too much of yourself to things that are outside of driving, or do you shelter yourself away and almost focus too hard on driving and try to shut down everything else? You can lose energy trying to push back and stay under the radar, which you can’t anyway because it’s your home GP.
“Neither is a natural way to go racing, so there’s a compromise you have to accept, and just do the best you can with what you have.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter. | https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/motorsport/there-s-a-level-of-anxiety-ricciardo-learns-to-cope-with-pressures-of-home-grand-prix-20220331-p5a9tb.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_sport | 2022-04-01T01:00:17Z |
A lot of money exchanges hands in the casino world. Payments are essential, and players are careful with their payment methods. Everyone wants a casino that keeps their money safe and offers a wide variety of payment options.
When you play real-money games, you need assurance that you will have no trouble claiming your winnings. With so many options, here are a few payment methods that casino players love.
e-Wallets
e-wallets/digital wallets are very popular. PayPal was introduced in 1998 to aid peer-to-peer payments. Other digital wallets like Neteller and Skrill followed soon after.
The best thing about e-wallets is that they are convenient. You can send and receive payments on your mobile device. Transactions are instant, and you do not need a bank account.
You can send or withdraw funds to e-wallets through your e-wallet cards, crypto, bank transfers, and other payment methods. Almost all online casinos now accept e-Wallets as payment forms. Try out new PayPal casinos and enjoy the convenience.
Debit/Credit Cards
These are the most common banking options. They come in handy in almost all of your regular transactions. Debit/credit cards work for both online and offline casinos.
Players love them because they have been around for a long time. MasterCard, VISA, and Maestro are a few of the top options. Many debit/credit cards may link to your bank account.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies may be fairly new, but they are going mainstream pretty fast. They have become popular for their anonymity, safety, and fast nature. Bitcoin is the most popular crypto, and many online casinos have already adopted it.
It was introduced in 2009 and has grown into one of the most reliable payment options. You can send or receive money to your Bitcoin wallet just like a bank. Many players prefer crypto over credit cards because of the obvious advantages.
Cryptocurrencies accommodate high banking limits, and there is no risk of your information falling into the wrong hands. The system utilizes blockchain technology. It is decentralized, making it hard for third parties to obtain your private details. Other popular crypto coins include Dogecoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Litecoin.
Prepaid Cards
AstroPay Card, Paysafecard, and other prepaid cards are popular payment methods as well. They work great for players looking for additional anonymity and privacy.
You can buy these cards at gas stations, grocery stores, online, and various outlets. Prepaid cards have come a long way, especially because you can buy them online. The only limitation is that they are only available for deposits.
Wire Transfer/Bank Transfer
Wire transfer payments allow you to transfer funds from an individual account or entity to another. They use transfer agencies or bank networks to send money anywhere.
Like debit/credit cards, bank transfer transactions are connected to your bank account. You have to open an account with the bank first. The benefits of bank transfer include instant deposits, reliability, security, big banking limits, and fraud protection. However, withdrawals can take up to five days.
Player-to-Player (P2P)Transfers
With P2P transfers, you can send or receive money from other casino players in only a few minutes. Use the funds to improve your gameplay and increase your chances of making profits.
The biggest benefits of P2P transfers include security, speed, and simplicity. It is perfect for friends and families who enjoy playing together. Since the payment option is pretty new, it may not be available in some casinos and sportsbooks.
There are plenty of payment methods to suit different player needs. The best ones have favorable terms and conditions. They are safe, fast, and reliable. When exploring your options, review every option and settle for one that meets your needs. | https://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/advice/payment-methods-what-do-casino-players-prefer/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:17Z |
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You will find the available purchasing options set by the seller for the domain name anttree.com.cn on the right side of this page.
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Our transfer specialists will send you tailored transfer instructions and assist you with the process to obtain the domain name. On average, within 24 hours the domain name is all yours.
Step 3: Now that the domain is officially in your hands, we pay the seller.
And we’re done! Unless you require our assistance. Our transfer team is available for free post-transfer assistance. | https://dan.com/buy-domain/anttree.com.cn | 2022-04-01T01:00:17Z |
Here are some events that will be going on in Clark and Champaign counties this weekend:
Mechanicsburg Blood Drive
A blood drive sponsored by Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the high school gymnasium, 60 High St.
To schedule an appointment, contact Elizabeth Porter.
Graham High School Musical
The Graham High School Music Department will present the musical, The Addams Family, at 7 p.m. today and Saturday in the Graham Middle School Auditeria.
There is full capacity seating and reserved seats are on sale. Tickets can be purchased by emailing Katie Setty at ghstickets@gmail.com or by calling GHS main office at 937-663-4127. All requests will be taken in order they are timestamped.
Due to the rising costs involved in producing a musical as well as the pandemic, the musical theater department is offering the opportunity to make additional contributions to assist with production costs and to help ensure the continuation of these performances. If you feel you want to help, fill out the form that can be found on the district’s website and social media accounts.
Tecumseh Walking Club
The Tecumseh Trailblazers Walking Club, a local club of the nonprofit national group American Volkssport Association (AVA), will host a walk to celebrate National Walking Week on Saturday starting at the Depot Coffee House, 644 Miami St. in Urbana.
The walk is free, but registration is required and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and ends at 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Written directions will be offered for a 5K, 10K or 15K walk. Members of AVA can receive IVV achievement credit for $3. Parking is available across the street from the Depot Coffee House. The walk should be suitable for strollers and wagons but difficult for wheelchairs. Pets are welcome but not inside the Depot Coffee House.
For more information, email beacon811@yahoo.com or visit the Tecumseh Trailblazers on Facebook.
Kidney Disease Presentation
The Springfield Chapter of The Links, Incorporation will host a Chronic Kidney Disease Presentation via Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
The presenting physicians will be Dr. Annick Edon, DO Nephrologist and Dr. Denise Rodney, MD, Family Practice, with special guests Charles Sanders, a kidney transplant recipient. Registration is through Eventbrite. The Springfield Links have been collaborating with black K.A.R.E., Kidney awareness, resources, and education.
For more information about black K.A.R.E., visit www.pdempowers.com/black-kare.
Pennsylvania House Museum Tour
The Pennsylvania House Museum will be open for tours from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The cost is a donation of $10 for adults and $3 for children.
Graham Food Pantry
Graham Local School District’s Falconland Market, located in the second-grade pod at the elementary school, will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Tunes-n-Tales Show
The Clark County Public Library and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra will present Tunes-n-Tales: The Frog Prince on Sunday in the Gaier Room of the Main Library, 201 S. Fountain Ave. in Springfield. Two performances will be held: a regular performance at 2 p.m. and a sensory friendly performance at 3:30 p.m. This performance is presented in the memory of Janet McCrosky.
The afternoon will include live music, the story featuring narration of Sonya Knisley, Children’s Librarian, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director, Peter Stafford Wilson.
Tickets are free and available in the Lenski Children’s Center of the Main Library. Limit of five tickets per family. Tickets are required for entry to the program. For more information, call 937-328-6905.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/musicals-walks-and-tours-among-events-around-clark-and-champaign-counties-this-weekend/DXKXHFSISJEAFLLRJTKP336L34/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:18Z |
One person shot in West Birmingham
Published: Mar. 31, 2022 at 7:15 PM CDT|Updated: 42 minutes ago
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Birmingham Police are investigating after one person was shot in West Birmingham on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Authorities say this happened in the 3100 block of Prince Avenue. Police say the victim was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
Police say a suspect is in custody.
We will continue to update this story as we learn more information.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE WBRC FOX6 NEWS APP
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Copyright 2022 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/04/01/one-person-shot-west-birmingham/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:19Z |
Robert Greenberger, of Washington, died at home on March 25 from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Bob was born March 7, 1942, in Queens, N.Y. Shortly after graduating from Brandeis University in 1963, Bob took the helm of his family’s company, the Graphic Paper Corp. Bob met Phyllis Morel when he crashed a party at her Manhattan apartment in the early 1960s. They married in 1966.
In 1972, Bob sold the business to study journalism at Columbia University. He joined The Wall Street Journal in 1976, beginning his career covering labor and economics. He jumped at the chance to cover foreign policy, covering wars in Central America, the fall of the Soviet Union and Mideast peace efforts. He capped his Journal career with a stint covering the Supreme Court.
After leaving the Journal in 2005, he wrote freelance articles for Moment magazine and taught at Goucher College. Bob is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Washington, D.C.; sons Scott (Michele Kurtz) of Takoma Park, Erik (Sara) of Westport, Conn., and Peter (Cassidy Waskowicz) of Washington; grandchildren Sydney, Jacob, Eli, Miles, Carly, Gideon and Isaac; sister Cynthia Lieberbaum of Westport; and brother John Maccabee of Kensington, Calif. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. | https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/robert-greenberger/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:18Z |
We already talked about Elton John’s tribute album. It includes many big names. The album is titled “Revamp”. Now Demi Lovato has released the official and updated version of her contribution to the album. The song is titled “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and it’s a must listen.
The album “Revamp” will contain re-done songs from many top British singers. The list includes The Killers, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Alessia Cara, Florence and the Machine, and Demi Lovato. Now that’s a huge list and there are plenty of big names in there to inspire everyone to buy this album.
With the first song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” coming out yesterday, the album is now available for pre-order. You can pre-order it pretty much every digital platform. From what it looks, this album is going to be worth buying. For now, you can listen to 2018 version of Elton John’s hit song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Demi Lovato featuring Q-Tip.
UPDATE: Elton John’s label decided to give this new song a video treatment as well. The video came out a few hours after the updated version of the song was unveiled. You can watch the official music video featuring Demi Lovato below. | http://all-noise.co.uk/new-song-from-elton-john-tribute-album-dont-go-breaking-my-heart-by-demi-lovato/28657/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:18Z |
(The Center Square) – Californians who applied to the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program will have eviction protections through the end of June under a new law signed Thursday.
Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis signed Assembly Bill 2179 on Thursday, which extends eviction protections for renters who apply for the state’s rent relief program by Thursday’s midnight deadline. Kounalakis is serving as acting governor while Gov. Gavin Newsom is out of the country with his family on vacation. In doing so, she made history as the first woman in California to sign a bill into law.
"California’s nation-leading rent relief program has provided much needed relief for more than 220,000 households across the state. Today’s action will provide additional time to thousands more who are in the process of acquiring emergency relief,” Kounalakis said in a statement.
Lawmakers fast-tracked AB 2179 to the governor’s desk this week amid Thursday’s looming deadline for tenants to apply for the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program. Under the program, eligible tenants and landlords impacted by COVID-19 could receive financial assistance for unpaid rent.
Thus far, the state has received over 506,700 applications to the program, though fewer than half of those households have been served, according to the state’s dashboard. Advocates and lawmakers alike feared that, without extending eviction protection for tenants who applied for aid but were still awaiting payments, thousands of renters could face eviction starting Friday.
Under AB 2179, only tenants who apply for the program by midnight Thursday will have eviction protections through June 30 – meaning tenants who do not apply for the program or were denied based on income will lose those protections. Landlords can take tenants who do not apply to the program to court for missed rent starting Friday, according to CalMatters.
The bill also doesn’t extend the deadline to apply for rent relief – Thursday night is the cutoff.
The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate on Thursday after passing the Assembly in a 60-0 vote on Monday. Lawmakers in support say the measure will offer critical protection for tenants who have applied for the program but are still waiting for relief payments.
“We are not going to allow for Californians to suffer – to lose their homes or their income – because of application processing times,” the bill’s co-author Assemblyman Tim Grayson tweeted shortly after the Senate passed the bill Thursday.
Today we upheld our promise to hundreds of thousands of Californians – renters and landlords alike – that we will help them through the financial hardships caused by the pandemic, and keep them in their homes while we do it. #AB2179 pic.twitter.com/2jJ4Xcitbd
— Tim Grayson (@AsmGrayson) March 31, 2022
Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, cast the sole “no” vote against the measure during Thursday’s Senate floor session, telling lawmakers that he could not support the bill because it limits eviction protections to only those who apply for the state’s rent assistance program and overrides local protections in some cities across the state.
AB 2179 preempts new local eviction moratoriums from taking effect, meaning San Francisco and parts of Los Angeles will be prevented from enacting the local eviction protections they had planned for tenants until July 1. Under the law, only cities that passed local eviction moratoriums before Aug. 19, 2020 could keep their ordinances in place.
“A lot of people continue to struggle from the pandemic – we're doing better health wise, but the economic damage that COVID has inflicted on many particularly low income families continues; that is not over,” Wiener said. “We should not be stopping cities from stepping in to protect renters who have been harmed by COVID.”
Tom Bannon, CEO of the California Apartment Association, a statewide trade group with 13,000 members, said in a statement Thursday that "today's extension must be the last." He said the CAA is hopeful that program administrators can deliver relief to the remaining households so that come June 30, "there will be no need for any more COVID eviction moratoria, state or local.”
"The days of unethical tenants fraudulently withholding rent and using the pandemic as a shield against eviction are coming to a close,” Bannon said. | https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/california-extends-eviction-protections-for-tenants-seeking-rent-relief/article_c093eb32-b139-11ec-8ed4-5f7daf0ebfd1.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:20Z |
Overnight Health Care — Presented by Alexion — Manchin pitch sparks Democratic exasperation
Welcome to Friday’s Overnight Health Care, where we’re following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup
Here’s something you don’t see every day: The makers of a device that repairs ice-cream machines are suing McDonald’s in a $900 million lawsuit.
The fate of health care policy is tied up with Build Back Better, and the debate in the Senate over how to proceed is still a bit muddled.
For The Hill, we’re Peter Sullivan (psullivan@thehill.com), Nathaniel Weixel (nweixel@thehill.com) and Joseph Choi (jchoi@thehill.com). Write to us with tips and feedback, and follow us on Twitter: @PeterSullivan4 @NateWeixel and @JosefChoi.
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Dems frustrated with Manchin’s BBB pitch
The fate of a host of health care reforms, from lowering drug prices to extending Affordable Care Act premium help, rests on what becomes of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.
But the latest pitch from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is not leaving everyone happy.
Senate Democrats are feeling exasperated with Manchin’s latest proposal on a scaled-down version of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda that would leave out big social spending initiatives like expanded child care, universal pre-kindergarten, national paid family leave and long-term home health care.
Manchin is proposing that his colleagues choose one 10-year program to focus on and devote the other half of revenues raised from tax reform and prescription drug reform to deficit reduction and fighting inflation.
He is suggesting limiting new spending to climate programs instead of an array of social spending initiatives that he says would likely get baked into the federal budget baseline for years to come.
Manchin says the country has to “get its fiscal house in order” before embarking on new grand spending plans, but his colleagues aren’t ready to let go of big, ambitious reforms they’ve talked about for more than a year, such as direct federal support for expanded access to child care.
“If he wants to focus on an economic package, then he needs to remember child care is an economic issue,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) when asked about Manchin’s pared-down proposal.
NYC lifts school mask mandate, other rules
New York City will end its school mask mandate and vaccination requirement for businesses like restaurants starting Monday, Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced.
The move in the country’s largest city is a sign of the push to return to normal life and part of a parade of recent announcements by governors and local officials lifting rules on masking and other areas.
“Two years ago, New York City was the epicenter of the pandemic, but thanks to New Yorkers getting vaccinated and getting boosted we have made tremendous progress,” Adams said in a statement.
He urged people to go out and take advantage of the city’s offerings.
“New Yorkers should be getting out and enjoying our amazing city,” he said. “The fight may not be over, but we’re clearly winning the war. We are open for business and New York City has its groove back.”
Under the new rules, businesses like restaurants and gyms will still be able to require vaccination if they choose to.
However…Masks will still be required for children under 5, for whom no vaccine is yet available, the mayor said.
Newsom unveils plan to help homeless
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a new plan Thursday to help homeless people with mental health and substance abuse disorders.
The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court would require all California counties to provide free comprehensive treatment to homeless citizens suffering from a list of ailments.
“CARE Court is about meeting people where they are and acting with compassion to support the thousands of Californians living on our streets with severe mental health and substance use disorders,” Newsom said at a mental health treatment center in San Jose. “We are taking action to break the pattern that leaves people without hope and cycling repeatedly through homelessness and incarceration.”
The program will allow community members, including family members, first responders and mental health service providers, to refer homeless people struggling with disorders to community-based services in an effort to treat people before they are “hospitalized or arrested.”
The plan includes local court-ordered individualized interventions and services, stabilization medication, advanced mental health directives and housing assistance, with service plans that last up to one or two years.
A MESSAGE FROM ALEXION
BIRD FLU CONFIRMED IN MISSOURI
Federal inspectors confirm that the bird flu, or avian flu, has been found in Missouri, making it one of multiple states where the disease has recently been detected among birds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday the disease was found in a flock of commercial broiler chickens in Stoddard County, The Associated Press reported.
All the birds on the affected properties will be killed and disposed of to prevent the disease from spreading further, the department said.
The samples from the flock of chickens were first tested at University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and checked at a USDA veterinary lab.
Avian flu is easily spread among birds as it can be contracted through contact with infected poultry, equipment and on outfits of human caretakers, the AP noted.
Florida lawmakers pass 15-week abortion ban
The Florida state Senate on Thursday evening passed legislation banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, sending it for consideration to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who has already signaled he will support it.
In a 23-15 vote, Florida’s upper chamber passed the 15-week abortion ban after the Florida House of Representatives approved the bill last month.
The legislation contains several exceptions to the ban, including in cases in which a fatal abnormality is found on a fetus or an abortion is needed to save the life or prevent serious injury to the pregnant person, according to The Associated Press. There are no exceptions in the case of incest, human trafficking or rape.
The legislation shortens the time period during which a person can receive an abortion in Florida, which was previously up to 24 weeks into pregnancy.
The development comes as the Supreme Court is set to rule on Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which Florida’s legislation was modeled after, that directly challenges the landmark case Roe v. Wade. The justices on the high court seemed to indicate during arguments in December that they could be open to upholding the law.
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WHAT WE’RE READING
- ‘Something is off here’: Black biotech entrepreneurs still struggle for funding as the industry pledges to diversify (Stat)
- Senate Democrats are planning another drug price hearing (Washington Post)
- End of the pandemic could usher in spike of uninsured (Axios)
A MESSAGE FROM ALEXION
STATE BY STATE
- Texas big-city schools are dropping their mask mandates in response to new CDC guidelines (Texas Tribune)
- Massachusetts will close 30 of its free COVID testing sites this month (WBUR)
- Big cities drop more COVID-19 measures in push for normalcy (Associated Press)
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill’s health care page for the latest news and coverage. See you Monday.{mosads}
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter. | https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/596958-health-care/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:17Z |
9 members of Cook Inlet Soccer Club ‘2004 girls’ team sign with collegiate teams
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A group of Anchorage youth soccer standouts had played their final game as teammates together, but they gathered at The Dome one last time in celebration as they will all continue their careers and education through the sport.
In total, nine Cook Inlet Soccer Club “2004 girls” players signed their national letters of intent prior to their final season of high school soccer as opponents.
East High School’s Zyiah Mikes is heading to Alabama A&M’s Division I program, while South’s Dot Tieszen and Dimond’s Keegynn Applegate will team up at D1 George Mason University. Lily Singleton (Pacific Lutheran University, DIII) is one of two Eagle River Wolves playing at the next level along with Kaycee Chavez, who will share the pitch again with Dimond’s Xiomara Chavez at Northern Idaho College (JUCO). West Anchorage standout Frida Vargas and Dimond defender Rebecca Shaw will don the same jersey at Southern Oregon University (NAIA), while Bartlett’s Ariel Gonzalez will take her talents to Green River College (JUCO) in Auburn, Washington.
Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. | https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/03/31/9-members-cook-inlet-soccer-club-2004-girls-team-sign-with-collegiate-teams/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:19Z |
BBI Judgment agrees on key principal matters with minimal dissent
What you need to know:
- Once the Appellate Court almost unanimously rejected the BBI, it became difficult for the Supreme Court to find to the contrary on the substantive issues.
- CJ Martha Koome correctly pointed out that there had been 21 failed attempts to amend the Constitution in its short lifespan.
The last nail on the BBI coffin was finally hammered by the Supreme Court in a resounding judgment that generally agreed on the principal issues with one only minimal dissent from Justices Mohamed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndung’u and Issac Lenaola.
Those who understand the judiciary would have known that from the day the High Court made a well-reasoned determination against the BBI, the President’s team was put on a difficult defence. Their best opportunity for resuscitation of the initiative was the Court of Appeal.
Once the Appellate Court almost unanimously rejected the BBI, it became difficult for the Supreme Court to find to the contrary on the substantive issues. As was generally expected, the Supreme Court laid to rest the “basic structure” and “eternity clauses” ghosts.
While the idea was stimulating jurisprudentially and philosophically, it was misplaced in a jurisdiction like Kenya with a young Constitution which still needs to retain the possibility of review when circumstances so demand.
In any event, unlike the jurisdictions quoted by the two appellate courts, Kenya had warned itself of the threat of hyper amendments and protected the most critical aspects of the Constitution through the entrenched provisions set out in Article 255. By insisting on additional safeguards, the court was arrogating itself unconstitutional powers and “loving the Constitution even more than the people or the Constitution loved itself”.
There was never any juridical basis for the “four consequential steps” that needed to be followed (prior to amendment). Even more fatally, the appellate courts never determined what was included in the basic structure arrogating the courts the responsibility “from time to time” to define what was contained in the structure.
CJ Martha Koome correctly pointed out that there had been 21 failed attempts to amend the Constitution in its short lifespan. They failed, not because the courts or some basic structure doctrine protected the Constitution, but because the Constitution’s inbuilt safeguards made it impossible to have the hyper changes that had been a feature of the 1963 Constitution.
There was therefore no need to borrow a 1973 Indian doctrine that was a reaction to that country’s specific circumstances. As correctly argued by the court, the drafters of the 2010 Constitution were aware of the basic structure doctrine.
If they had intended it to be part of the Constitution, nothing would have been easier than to include it in the text.
Popular initiative cloak
The Supreme Court also made the pragmatic and legally sound decision to shield the President from civil proceedings while in office. The lower appellate courts had gone on a frolic that was inconsistent with basic constitutional law and practice. The immunity given to the President is essential for proper functioning of the office.
As the Justice Smokin Wanjala correctly pointed out, why would the Constitution suspend the law on limitation of actions against the President during her presidency if it intended for her to be sued while in office?
But the most contentious issue, the one that ultimately killed the BBI, was the involvement of the President in the initiative. While Justices Ndung’u and Lenaola tried to save the President on this one, the classic rendition from Justice Ouko that the “great grandfather of the bill was the (March 9, 2018) handshake, the grandfather was the task force and its father was the steering committee, all of them carrying the BBI surname” will reverberate for a long time when the judgment is analysed.
It killed the “popular initiative” cloak that the BBI team had attempted to clothe it with. This aspect of the ruling, however, raises serious questions about the role of the President in a presidential system. The President is not an MP so technically the parliamentary initiative is not vailable to him. It is not sufficient to argue that he can use his party members to initiate the process in Parliament.
The Constitution anticipates the possibility of an independent candidate winning the presidency. How could the courts close the opportunity for such a president to initiate constitutional reforms through a popular initiative? In reality though, the court must have recognised that the President in jurisdictions like Kenya remains a powerful instrumentality of the state and has multiple unofficial means to still achieve such an objective.
On the question of the issue of the addition of constituencies in the second schedule, all judges decried the sloppiness that had led to the inclusion of this schedule late in the process with glaring errors. It also appeared to take away the constitutional powers of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) without expressly stating so. This schedule appeared to be an afterthought. It is no wonder that even judges ideologically sympathetic to the state couldn’t find a rational way to save this aspect of the bill.
The refrain from the judges was that we need a legal framework for public participation. It is sad that 12 years after the promulgation of the Constitution, we are still discussing what qualitative and quantitative public participation means. It is probably an indication of the contempt with which the political establishment holds the public that no one has made any meaningful attempt to produce a legal framework on this issue.
Parliament was also lambasted for not having provided a legal framework for the implementation of Chapter 16 of the Constitution. When the Constitution Implementation Commission was leaving office, one of its principal proposals was that Parliament needed to enact a law for implementation of this chapter, including carrying out of a referendum.
Huge legal vacuum
What this process has shown is that there is a huge legal vacuum in this area that requires filling urgently. Such a law would clarify numerous processes that exist in substance in the Constitution but lack essential detail. How for example does the IEBC verify signatures? How does the commission treat conflicting amendment/referenda proposals? What are the procedural requirements for commencing popular initiatives? What are the procedural requirements for County Assembly approval?
These issues require resolution through legislation before the next initiative comes alive. It is sad that the court, other than Justice Ndung’u, refused to deal with the vexing question of the form of the plebiscite question. Should it be a question per issue or one question for a composite bill? While the issue was technically remote, so was the matter of the constitutionality of the Second Schedule, but the court dealt with it despite it not being ripe for determination.
Constitutionality is traditionally proclaimed after a law has passed, not a bill. One hopes that the law on the implementation of Chapter 16 will resolve this issue. Ultimately even those who disagree with the decision of the court must accept that Kenya is a better country for undergoing these processes.
That was true even on the day this court nullified the presidential election. It means our institutions are maturing and that the old days when the Executive ran roughshod over all institutions are gone. It also means that those who exercise power must check if they are complying with constitutional prescriptions and values.
Some final words for the High Court. While the most consequential part its decision, the basic structure, has been overturned, that court was impressive in its intellectual rigour. The arguments on the basic structure will fill many jurisprudential texts. As for the Court of Appeal, none of us will forget Justice Kiage’s poetic renditions.
Where next for BBI? First we address the presidency. There is an obvious deficiency in the advisory content of that office. We need, at the minimum, the office that used to be occupied by Mr Abdikadir Hussein Mohamed staffed. This was a colossal embarrassment for the President. Three courts finding his actions unconstitutional is no mean phenomenon. In other jurisdictions, someone would have resigned or been dismissed. It calls for reflection on the nature and character of the legal advisory infrastructure around the President.
One of the positive implications of the Supreme Court decision is that the progressive issues in BBI can be revived. It must, however, be done by a process devoid of Executive engagement. It must respect the dictates of public participation and must accord with the law. For the 2022 election, that option is off the table.
The final positive about the judgment is that the court enters into the delicate process of managing the 2022 presidential election petition without a “pro-system” tag. This is what led to the 2007 post-election violence when the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy refused to go to a “compromised” court. All protagonists in this case left with a win. Just what the Doctor ordered as we head into the turbulent winds of Odinga Vs Ruto, or Ruto Vs Odinga in five month’s.
God bless Kenya.
Mr Waiganjo is an advocate of the High Court | https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/judgment-agrees-key-principal-matters-minimal-dissent--3767378 | 2022-04-01T01:00:20Z |
$100M Richer, Neuron23 Introduces LRRK2 inhibitor for Parkinson's
Neuron23 announced Wednesday the closing of a $100 million Series C financing round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The company, which develops precision medicines for neuroimmunological diseases, also nominated NEU-723 as a clinical candidate for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The closing of Series C brings Neuron23’s total funding...
www.biospace.com | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556614494759/100m-richer-neuron23-introduces-lrrk2-inhibitor-for-parkinson-s | 2022-04-01T01:00:20Z |
Skippy Foods, LLC has recalled more than 9,000 cases of peanut butter "due to the possibility that a limited number of jars may contain a small fragment of stainless steel from a piece of manufacturing equipment," the company said in an announcement Thursday.
The specific Skippy brands included Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread, Skippy Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter Blended With Plant Protein all with "best if used by dates" of early May 2023. Those dates are located at the top of the lid.
The company said there have been no consumer complaints related to this issue and the recall is voluntary.
All retailers that received these particular products have been notified, the company said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/2022-03-31/recall-issued-for-thousands-of-skippy-peanut-butter-cases-due-to-steel-fragments | 2022-04-01T01:00:20Z |
A monkey? A zebra? There are countless options on this one.
NESN’s Adam Pellerin asked Boston Bruins fans at The Harp about their favorite zoo animals.
Feels like picking a bear as a Bruins fan is necessary.
To hear what the fans had to say, check out the video above from the “Ultimate Bruins Show,” presented by Bud Light. | https://nesn.com/2022/03/ultimate-question-of-the-week-what-is-your-favorite-zoo-animal/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:21Z |
As part of efforts to bringing to timely fruition the Youth area of the REDEEMED agenda of Governor Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Otunba Dele Ologun alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Engr. Ogidan on 30th of March, 2022 went on an official follow up visits over previous requests made to key ministries in Abuja. The ministries visited among other places include; Office of the Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, Office of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council.
Receiving the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development on behalf of the Minister for Youth and Sports, Ahlaji Ismail Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development noted the visit as one made at the right time. He assured that the ministry will collaborate with Ondo State to bringing about rapid development to the youths of the state through training, empowerment and refurbishment. He added that the youths are key stakeholders in nation building and must be provided with necessary facilities and spaces to excel. Consequently, he promised on behalf of the Minister that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports will fast-track all necessary steps and get back to the state’s ministry in the shortest time.
From there, the Ondo State crew visited the Head Office of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and had a fruitful meeting with the management of the council. Representing the Director, Mrs Gertrude Ukoanam commended the efforts of the Ondo State ministry of Youth and Sports Development on the timely follow up of their request to the Council. She assured that the Council will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Ondo State Youths are adequately trained in entrepreneurship activities, production, packaging and branding of goods for international markets. She added that the Export Council will be swift in her action and get back to the Ondo State ministry of Youth and Sports Development as soon as possible.
The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Youth and Student Affairs, Nasir Adhama also played host to the Ondo State Commissioner and his Permanent Secretary. While welcoming them, the S.A commended the zeal with which the Ondo State ministry of Youth and Sports Development is pursuing the success of the youth section of the REDEEMED agenda of the Governor Akeredolu’s led administration. He assured that his office will prioritise Ondo State and intervene with adequate funds for youth’s training and empowerment.
The visitation ended at the office of the Technical Aid Corps where the Ondo State Commissioner and his Permanent Secretary were warmly received and commended for showing
seriousness and prompt follow up on the request of the state to TAC. The G.M of TAC noted that the visitation of the Ondo State ministry of Youth and Sports Development shows seriousness which must be reciprocated. The G.M assured that the TAC will partner with Ondo State very soon in order to train and produce self reliant youths.
Media Office of the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development.
30/03/2022. | https://www.ondoevents.com/archives/38420 | 2022-04-01T01:00:21Z |
Awarded funding from the Gates Foundation to support development of inhaled formulation technology to deliver cost-effective monoclonal antibodies against influenza and COVID-19
LOS GATOS, Calif., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARDS), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel anti-infective therapies to treat life-threatening infections, today reported financial and corporate results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
- Continued enrollment in the Company's Phase 2a study of AR-501 targeting cystic fibrosis (CF), conducted in collaboration with the funding support from the CF Foundation. Aridis is on track to report top-line data from this CF study in mid-2022.
- Continued enrollment in the Company's Phase 3 study evaluating AR-301 for the treatment of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP). Aridis is on track to report top-line data in the second half of 2022.
- The Company is on track to initiate the Phase 3 trial of AR-320 for the prevention of VAP in mid-2022 following regulatory feedback on the clinical development plans and Phase 3 study design received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). Clarity on the regulatory pathway to the registrational Phase 3 trial and licensure has been achieved. The Phase 3 SAATELLITE-2 study will be conducted in collaboration with the COMBACTE-Net consortium of HAP/VAP experts, funded up to 25 million Euros by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) program of the European Commission.
- Reported preclinical data demonstrating that AR-701, the Company's first fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktail, is broadly reactive against the Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) variants, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus), and multiple seasonal ('common cold') human coronavirus strains.
- In January 2022, Aridis announced that it had received a $1.9 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates Foundation) to evaluate the application of the Company's inhaled formulation technology to deliver cost-effective monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against influenza and SARS-CoV-2 to people in low- and middle-income countries.
- Signed loan agreement for $10 million in non-dilutive financing with Streeterville Capital. Received first $5 million payment in November 2021 and the second $5 million payment in February 2022.
"I am proud of our team's work in 2021 as we strengthened our foundation and advanced key development programs," commented Vu Truong, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Aridis Pharmaceuticals. "2022 will be a pivotal year for Aridis as we achieve important clinical milestones, including data readout from our AR-501 Phase 2a and AR-301 Phase 3 studies as well as the initiation of the AR-320 registrational Phase 3 study, and the anticipated launch of the first-in-human clinical study of AR-701. We look forward to sharing further updates on the progress of these programs in the coming months as we continue to build our leadership in the respiratory health space."
Clinical Program Update
AR-301 (tosatoxumab): AR-301 is being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical study as an adjunctive treatment to standard of care antibiotics in S. aureus VAP patients. The ongoing AR-301 Phase 3 study remains blinded, and the independent Data Monitoring Committee with access to unblinded data continues to monitor study subjects for safety and has not expressed any safety concerns. The Company observed modest improvement in enrollment in recent months despite the continued pandemic. However, because a significant number of participating clinical sites in the study are in Eastern Europe, the escalating Ukraine-Russia conflict is expected to negatively impact enrollment. At the present time, the company anticipates reporting top-line data in the second half of 2022.
The trial represents the first ever Phase 3 superiority clinical study evaluating immunotherapy with a fully human mAb to treat acute pneumonia in the ICU setting. Details of the study can be viewed on www.clinicaltrials.gov using identifier NCT03816956.
AR-320 (suvratoxumab): The Company licensed this Phase 3-ready asset from AstraZeneca in July 2021. A multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study (n=196 patients) showed that mechanically ventilated ICU patients colonized with S. aureus who were treated with suvratoxumab, a fully human mAb, demonstrated a relative risk reduction in onset of pneumonia by 32% in the overall intent-to-treat (ITT) study population, and by a statistically significant 47% in the under 65-year-old population, which is the target population in the planned Phase 3 study. This statistically significant relative risk reduction in the target population was also associated with a substantial reduction in the duration of care needed in the ICU and hospital. The Company completed successful discussions with the EMA via the Scientific Advisory meeting and the FDA via an End-of-Phase 2 meeting, including obtaining agreement on the planned Phase 3 study serving as a single pivotal trial. The regulatory feedback from these agencies is incorporated in the Company's clinical study design. The Company expects to launch its Phase 3 SAATELLITE-2 study of AR-320 in the mid-2022 in collaboration with the public-private COMBACTE-Net consortium of HAP/VAP experts, funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) program of the European Commission in the amount of up to 25 million Euros.
AR-501 (gallium citrate): The Company initiated its Phase 2a study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), and preliminary efficacy in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in the first quarter of 2021. The Phase 2a study is actively enrolling patients with a goal of delivering full data readout in mid-2022. AR-501 is being developed in collaboration with the CF Foundation and has been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), Fast Track and Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designations by the FDA. In addition, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted ODD to AR-501. The Phase 1/2a clinical trial underway is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, utilizing single- and multiple-ascending dose and dose-ranging strategies, investigating the safety and PK of inhaled AR-501 in healthy volunteers and CF patients with chronic bacterial lung infections. Details of the Phase 1/2a clinical trial can be viewed on https://www.clinicaltrials.gov using identifier NCT03669614.
AR-701: AR-701 is a cocktail of two fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) mAbs discovered from screening the antibody secreting B-cells of convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infected (COVID-19) patients. Each mAb of the AR-701 cocktail neutralizes coronaviruses using a distinct mechanism of action, namely inhibition of viral fusion and entry into human cells (AR-703) or blockage of viral binding to the human 'ACE2' receptor (AR-720). The AR-701 mAbs are engineered to be half-life extended and potentially active for 6-12 months in the blood. AR-701 is being developed as a long-acting intramuscular prophylactic to prevent COVID-19 infections, as well as a self-administered inhaled formulation for the treatment of COVID-19 patients who are not yet hospitalized. In February 2022, Aridis reported that both of its fully human mAbs in the AR-701 cocktail neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Moreover, both mAbs conferred strong protection against Omicron infected animals when given either parenterally or by intranasal administration. The performance of the AR-701 cocktail is published in Biorxiv [see https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.05.483133v1]. We expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical study in 2H2022.
Fiscal 2021 Financial Results:
- Cash: Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2021, were approximately $20.0 million.
- Revenues: Grant and licensing revenue increased to approximately $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to the recognition of revenue from grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and the Gates Foundation as well as from Kermode, an Apex technology licensee. Grant and licensing revenue earned during the year ended December 31, 2020 was approximately $1.0 million, all from CFF. Grant and licensing revenue was approximately $0.6 million and $0 for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
- Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses increased by approximately $21.0 million to $38.0 million for year ended December 31, 2021 from $17.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was due primarily to: an increase of approximately $11.5 million to in-license AR-320 rights from Medimmune; an increase of approximately $6.6 million for AR-320 drug manufacturing and clinical trial preparation costs; an increase of approximately $0.7 million for costs associated with the development of AR-701; an increase of approximately $0.5 million for the continuing conduct of the Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating AR-501 for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis and an increase of approximately $0.6 million in personnel, consulting and other related costs.
Research and development expenses increased by approximately $4.4 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2021 to $8.6 million from $4.2 million in the same quarter in 2020. This is primarily due to increases in drug manufacturing for our AR-320 trial ($2.8 million), spending on the Gates Foundation funded project ($0.5 million) and spending on personnel, consulting and other related costs ($0.4 million). - General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $0.9 million to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was due primarily to increases in professional service fees, franchise tax and recruitment expense to attract talent. General and administrative expenses increased in Q4 2021 to $2.0 million from $1.6 million in Q4 2020 primarily due to increases in consulting, legal fees, insurance and recruitment offset by lower accounting, rent and repairs expense.
- Interest Income (Expense) net: Net interest expense, increased by approximately $322,000 to approximately $245,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from approximately $77,000 net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increased expense was primarily due to our debt servicing in 2021.
- Share of Loss in Equity Method Investment. Loss from our share of equity method investment in Shenzhen Arimab Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. decreased by approximately $9,000 to zero for the year ended December 31, 2021. The loss was $9,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our share of loss from our minority interest calculated under the equity method was limited to the reduction of the net book value of the investment to zero as of March 31, 2020.
- Other Income: Other income in the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by approximately $796,000 from zero during the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to forgiveness of the $722,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Additionally, other income from a sublease agreement we entered into with a tenant in March 2021 to sublet a small portion of our Los Gatos facility increased by approximately $74,000 during the year ended December 31, 2021, from zero for the year ended December 31, 2020. Other income increased by approximately $22,000 in Q4 2021. There was no sublease agreement or related income during the three months ended December 30, 2020.
- Net Loss: The net loss available to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2021, was approximately $47.3 million, or $3.85 net loss per share, compared to a net loss available to common stockholders of approximately $22.3 million, or $2.44 net loss per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020. The weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share available to common stockholders was 12,291,600 million and 9,168,744 million for the years ended December 31 of 2021 and 2020, respectively.
About Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discovers and develops anti-infectives to be used as first-line treatments to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and viral pandemics. The Company is utilizing its proprietary ʎPEX and MabIgX® technology platforms to rapidly identify rare, potent antibody-producing B-cells from patients who have successfully overcome an infection, and to rapidly manufacture mAbs for therapeutic treatment of critical infections. These mAbs are already of human origin and functionally optimized by the natural human immune system for high potency. Hence, they are already fit-for-purpose and do not require further engineering optimization to achieve full functionality.
The Company has generated multiple clinical stage mAbs targeting bacteria that cause life-threatening infections such as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP), in addition to preclinical stage antibacterial and antiviral mAbs. The use of mAbs as anti-infective treatments represents an innovative therapeutic approach that harnesses the human immune system to fight infections and is designed to overcome the deficiencies associated with the current standard of care, which is broad spectrum antibiotics. Such deficiencies include, but are not limited to, increasing drug resistance, short duration of efficacy, disruption of the normal flora of the human microbiome and lack of differentiation among current treatments. The mAb portfolio is complemented by a non-antibiotic novel mechanism small molecule anti-infective candidate being developed to treat lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. The Company's pipeline is highlighted below:
Aridis' Pipeline
AR-301 (VAP). AR-301 is a fully human IgG1 mAb currently in Phase 3 clinical development targeting gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) alpha-toxin in VAP patients.
AR-320 (nosocomial pneumonia). AR-320 is a fully human mAb targeting S. aureus alpha-toxin for prevention of nosocomial pneumonia. Statistically significant Phase 2 data in the target population of those ≤ 65 years of age, was recently published in Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The Company has completed discussions with the EMA and FDA on study design and expects to launch its Phase 3 study of AR-320 in mid-2022.
AR-101 (HAP). AR-101 is a fully human immunoglobulin M (IgM) mAb in Phase 2 clinical development targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) liposaccharides serotype O11, which accounts for approximately 22% of all P. aeruginosa hospital acquired pneumonia cases worldwide. This program is licensed to the Serum Institute of India and Shenzhen Arimab.
AR-501 (cystic fibrosis). AR-501 is an inhaled formulation of gallium citrate with broad-spectrum anti-infective activity being developed to treat chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. This program is currently in a Phase 2a clinical study in CF patients.
AR-701 (COVID-19). AR-701 is a cocktail of fully human mAbs discovered from convalescent COVID-19 patients that are directed at multiple envelope proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
AR-401 (blood stream infections). AR-401 is a fully human mAb preclinical program aimed at treating infections caused by gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii.
AR-201 (RSV infection). AR-201 is a fully human IgG1 mAb directed against the F-protein of diverse clinical isolates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This program is licensed exclusively to the Serum Institute of India.
For additional information on Aridis Pharmaceuticals, please visit https://aridispharma.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimated" and "intend" or other similar terms or expressions that concern Aridis' expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on Aridis' current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the need for additional financing, the timing of regulatory submissions, Aridis' ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of its existing product candidates and any other product candidates it may develop, approvals for clinical trials may be delayed or withheld by regulatory agencies, risks relating to the timing and costs of clinical trials, risks associated with obtaining funding from third parties, management and employee operations and execution risks, loss of key personnel, competition, risks related to market acceptance of products, intellectual property risks, risks related to business interruptions, including the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus, which could seriously harm our financial condition and increase our costs and expenses, risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, Aridis' ability to attract collaborators and partners and risks associated with Aridis' reliance on third party organizations. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, market conditions and the factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Aridis' 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and Aridis' other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and Aridis does not undertake any obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Dave Gentry, CEO
RedChip Companies
Dave@redchip.com
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SOURCE Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.nbc12.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/aridis-pharmaceuticals-announces-2021-fourth-quarter-year-end-financial-results-business-update/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:20Z |
Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment,” Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. “And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night’s ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer’s interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television.”
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/04/01/oscars-producer-says-police-offered-arrest-will-smith/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:20Z |
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — About $7 million worth of surplus personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies purchased by a Northern California county was left outside during a rainstorm because no one anticipated wet weather to start so early in the season, according to an investigation released Thursday.
After a KGO-TV news report showed hundreds of drenched cardboard boxes, San Mateo County officials acknowledged the supplies were moved outside an event center last September to make room for a conference.
There was no definitive timeline for how the supplies would be distributed “even though the Fall rainy season was not far off,” the probe by James Lianides said. County officials said they hired the retired school superintendent to conduct the inquiry because of his experience dealing with large organizations and purchasing practices.
Lianides said the boxes of non-medical-grade gowns, face shields and goggles as well as cleaning supplies were also moved out of the event center to avoid the $100,000-per-month storage fee.
“It does not appear that there were any discussions or actions taken in the process of (moving) to protect the equipment in the event of inclement weather, such as wrapping or covering each pallet,” he wrote.
The county's executive officer, Mike Callagy, has said the county purchased the items early in the pandemic when PPE was becoming scarce nationwide so that local first responders and medical providers would have what they needed. The demand for the equipment decreased as the pandemic continued.
The county’s supply of gloves and masks — including N95 and KN95 respirators — are stored indoors.
“What’s clear is that that this shouldn’t have happened. What is equally clear is we are taking the steps necessary to make sure that we put the checks and balances in place so this never happens again,” Callagy said in a statement Thursday.
An inspection of the damaged boxes determined that most of the safety equipment remains usable because they were packed in sealed plastic wrapping, the probe found. Equipment that could not be salvaged were worth about $128,000, according to Lianides. | https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/Report-Rain-not-anticipated-when-7M-in-PPE-17049873.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:18Z |
Computer shortage looming
Dearth seen from May to June, says Advice
published : 1 Apr 2022 at 06:34
newspaper section: Business
writer: Suchit Leesa-nguansuk
Thailand's computer market risks a shortage by the middle of this year while slower demand can be expected because of the sluggish economy, according to IT distributor Advice.
Chukkrit Watcharasaksilp, chief of sales and marketing at Advice, said a shortage is likely in May to June if the fresh Covid lockdowns in China hobble producers.
The company has enough inventory for 2-3 months, he said.
Most retailers completed advance orders last year and the products have been shifted to Thailand, said Mr Chukkrit.
He indicated the growth of IT product sales is expected to be slower than last year due to economic woes and many users have crucially bought IT products over the past two years.
"If the lockdown in China prolongs, plus the weaker baht and protracted Russian-Ukraine war, we are likely to see a rise in computer prices around the middle of this year," he said.
According to him, popular computer notebooks are in the range of 18,000-19,000 baht while popular gaming computers range from 25,900-40,000 baht.
Advice will sponsor a pre-season football friendly match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Thailand this July.
"The event will put our brand in the sports marketing while we are preparing to launch an IPO later this year," said Mr Chukkrit. "Youngsters are high potential targets for computing devices."
Pornchai Jantarasupasang, director for IT media and event at ARIP, organiser of IT fair Commart, stressed the first-quarter Commart, which kicked off on Thursday, has no supply shortage.
The four-day event runs until Sunday at Bitec.
Despite economic challenges, IT equipment is still necessary but consumers are likely to be more selective and cautious before making a decision.
The event is likely to see at least 3 billion baht in sales, similar to the event held in the final quarter of last year, Mr Pornchai noted. Around 500,000 visitors are expected.
"There is still pent-up demand for notebooks and tailor-made computers from people working from home and studying online," Mr Pornchai said.
All major IT retail chains booked more space for this Commart to boost sales opportunities while the number of small retailers contracted around 20% from the last event due to the lack of cash flow and inventory.
Takon Niyomthai, head of IT business development at IT retail chain Com7, expected the impact of China's lockdown would last 1-2 months while the firm has enough inventory for at least three months. | https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2288370/computer-shortage-looming | 2022-04-01T01:00:21Z |
Frax Share (FXS) traded 0.8% lower against the dollar during the 1-day period ending at 20:00 PM ET on March 31st. In the last seven days, Frax Share has traded up 23.1% against the dollar. One Frax Share coin can currently be bought for approximately $22.52 or 0.00049337 BTC on popular cryptocurrency exchanges. Frax Share has a market capitalization of $365.01 million and approximately $13.07 million worth of Frax Share was traded on exchanges in the last 24 hours.
Here is how similar cryptocurrencies have performed in the last 24 hours:
- Tether (USDT) traded 0% lower against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00002192 BTC.
- XRP (XRP) traded down 4.6% against the dollar and now trades at $0.82 or 0.00001802 BTC.
- Polkadot (DOT) traded down 4.6% against the dollar and now trades at $21.50 or 0.00047111 BTC.
- Shiba Inu (SHIB) traded down 5.4% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0000 or 0.00000000 BTC.
- Wrapped TRON (WTRX) traded down 0.8% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0744 or 0.00000163 BTC.
- Lido stETH (STETH) traded down 3.5% against the dollar and now trades at $3,270.20 or 0.07164958 BTC.
- EarnX (EARNX) traded up 396,248.3% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0008 or 0.00000002 BTC.
- Bitcoin BEP2 (BTCB) traded down 3.1% against the dollar and now trades at $45,599.75 or 0.99908370 BTC.
- stETH (Lido) (STETH) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $3,479.19 or 0.06807369 BTC.
- Internet Computer (ICP) traded down 4% against the dollar and now trades at $21.15 or 0.00046332 BTC.
About Frax Share
According to CryptoCompare, “The Frax Share token (FXS) is the non-stable, value-accrual token in the Frax protocol. It is meant to be volatile and hold rights to governance and all excess collateral of the system. “
Frax Share Coin Trading
It is usually not possible to buy alternative cryptocurrencies such as Frax Share directly using U.S. dollars. Investors seeking to acquire Frax Share should first buy Ethereum or Bitcoin using an exchange that deals in U.S. dollars such as Coinbase, Changelly or GDAX. Investors can then use their newly-acquired Ethereum or Bitcoin to buy Frax Share using one of the aforementioned exchanges.
Receive News & Updates for Frax Share Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and updates for Frax Share and related cryptocurrencies with MarketBeat.com's FREE CryptoBeat newsletter. | https://www.wkrb13.com/2022/04/01/frax-share-trading-23-1-higher-this-week-fxs.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:22Z |
Investment analysts at Stephens began coverage on shares of Upstart (NASDAQ:UPST – Get Rating) in a research note issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. The brokerage set an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
UPST has been the topic of several other research reports. Wedbush lowered shares of Upstart from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $110.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 22nd. Bank of America raised shares of Upstart from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $255.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 17th. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Upstart from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 24th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Upstart in a research report on Thursday, December 9th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Upstart from $285.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $238.82.
Upstart stock traded down $5.05 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $109.09. 9,179,704 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,012,148. Upstart has a 52-week low of $75.15 and a 52-week high of $401.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 77.37 and a beta of 0.01. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $115.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $194.79.
In related news, CEO Dave Girouard sold 83,333 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.48, for a total transaction of $12,373,283.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, General Counsel Alison Nicoll sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.74, for a total transaction of $913,050.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 249,374 shares of company stock worth $31,378,533. Insiders own 25.20% of the company’s stock.
A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Winch Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Upstart by 77.8% in the 3rd quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 144 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Upstart by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,276 shares of the company’s stock valued at $720,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Sandy Spring Bank raised its holdings in Upstart by 131.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sandy Spring Bank now owns 132 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in Upstart by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 5,237 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,657,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edmonds Duncan Registered Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Upstart by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Edmonds Duncan Registered Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,914 shares of the company’s stock valued at $606,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. 67.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Upstart Company Profile (Get Rating)
Upstart Holdings, Inc operates a cloud- based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform. The company's platform aggregates consumer demand for loans and connects it to its network of the company's AI- enabled bank partners. Its platform connects consumers, banks, and institutional investors through a shared AI lending platform.
Further Reading
- Get a free copy of the StockNews.com research report on Upstart (UPST)
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Receive News & Ratings for Upstart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Upstart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. | https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2022/03/31/upstart-nasdaqupst-research-coverage-started-at-stephens.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:22Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The owner of a downtown Los Angeles building where an explosion injured 12 firefighters has been allowed to enter a judicial diversion program that allows him to avoid jail time and potentially have all charges dismissed.
A court commissioner on Wednesday granted the diversion request for Steve Sungho Lee. He and his companies must pay more than $125,000 in investigative fees, make sure the property meets fire and building codes and arranging for Fire Department training.
Lee owned a commercial building on East Boyd Street in the city's Toy District that caught fire on May 16, 2020. Firefighters had to run for their lives when a ball of flames shot out the building and scorched a fire truck across the street.
Firefighters inside the building had to run through a wall of flames he estimated as 30 feet (9 meters) high and wide, and those on the roof scrambled down a ladder that was engulfed in fire.
Fire officials said the building was a warehouse for Smoke Tokes, a wholesale distributor of supplies for smoking and vaping products including butane hash oil, a concentrated cannabis extract that can be eaten, smoked or vaped. Highly flammable butane is used in the manufacturing process.
Most of the injured firefighters still haven't returned to work and one, Capt. Victor Aguirre, was hospitalized for more than two months and all of his fingers had to be partially amputated, according to a lawsuit he filed against the building and business owners.
Aguirre alleged that the area contained “hundreds of illegally and improperly stored butane canisters and thousands of illegally and improperly stored nitrous oxide cylinders.”
A fire department report concluded that the blaze, which spread to a nearby building, was fueled by an “excessive quantity” of the containers.
Investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that the fire started under a storage rack in the building and that a worker with a lit cigarette was seen in the area. The cause of the fire was ruled accidental.
However, city prosecutors filed more than 300 misdemeanor charges of violating fire and safety codes against Lee, his companies and owners of businesses in the building and nearby properties. That included more than 160 counts against Lee and his companies.
If Lee meets all conditions of his judicial diversion program for two years, the charges will be dismissed.
“Mr. Lee will be deemed by law to have never been charged," said his attorney, Blair Berk. “The exhaustive federal investigation of the tragic fire objectively concluded that the cause was accidental, and there was no finding of any wrongdoing by Mr. Lee or his companies.”
City Attorney Mike Feuer opposed diversion for Lee, noting the severity of the fire, the injuries suffered by the firefighters and Lee's alleged failure “to take steps which could have mitigated the extent of the blaze."
The owners of Smoke Tokes and another business, Green Buddha, agreed in November 2020 to pay $139,000 each to cover investigative costs and to move out of the building. Charges against them were later dismissed. | https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/No-jail-for-LA-building-owner-over-explosion-that-17049830.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:23Z |
ABERDEEN, N.C., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The fast growth of Moore County, including Aberdeen, Pinehurst, and Southern Pines, caused a few growing pains for General Manager Scott Weaver and his team at Leith Honda Aberdeen, "The growth in Aberdeen is so great that we just outgrew our building. It was time." Last weekend, his team cut the ribbon and drove vehicles to their new, expanded facility adjacent to the original Leith Honda Aberdeen location on US 15-501.
The new building includes an expanded showroom giving customers a more relaxed environment to shop and explore the showcased inventory. Also, their waiting area has expanded for customers' comfort and includes business workstations for those who need to work while they wait.
Weaver and Service Manager Mark Posey are most excited about their new state-of-the-art service department. The new facility holds twice as many service bays as the former building, complete with new tire balancers, express bay lifts, and individual fluid and air filling stations.
"When we have to walk to the parts counter to get oil and washer fluid for our vehicles, it adds to the customer's wait time," said Posey. "Now we will have oil and washer fluid, water, light, and electrical reels right at our fingertips."
Even with a new building, the one thing that won't change is Leith's tradition to take the best care of their customers. Posey says that commitment is what has kept customers coming back for generations. "We've got people that we have retained since I've been here. I have worked on their mother's and grandmother's cars."
LeithCars.com is one of the largest automotive groups in North Carolina. A family business created in Raleigh, Leith Cars has been serving the Triangle community for over 50 years, incorporating over 1,900 North Carolinians into its family. The number one place to buy vehicles in the Raleigh metro area for five years running, according to a Marshall Marketing Survey, the auto dealer has 39 franchise locations throughout the state. For more information, visit www.leithcars.com.
Media Contact:
Lora Johnson
919-832-3232
lora.johnson@leithcars.com
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SOURCE LeithCars.com | https://www.fox8live.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/leith-grows-with-moore-county-opens-upgraded-expanded-honda-dealership-aberdeen/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:22Z |
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Albany
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09:10
R7 RTG 70+ Handicap
1925m
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, RTG70+, Handicap
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, RTG70+, Handicap
Prize:
$20,000
1st:
$11,600
2nd:
$4,000
3rd:
$1,800
Track Info:
RAIL - +4m Entire Cutaway applies.
Friday 01 April 2022 09:10AM
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Yes | https://www.racenet.com.au/results/horse-racing/albany-20220401/furphy-jericho-cup-qualifier-24th-april-handicap-race-7 | 2022-04-01T01:00:23Z |
Rangers could face legal action after Sydney Super Cup snub
By Vince Rugari
The organisers of the Sydney Super Cup have hit back at Rangers, who could face legal action for pulling out of the NSW government-backed tournament and a planned Old Firm derby against Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic.
Following weeks of speculation over their involvement, the Scottish champions have confirmed they will not take part in the four-team event in November, for which tickets have already gone on sale.
In a statement released overnight, the club accused tournament organisers of being “unwilling to fulfil their commitments to Rangers” and said they’d terminated their agreement to play in the Sydney Super Cup with immediate effect. According to Sky Sports News, those commitments involved the non-use of the term ‘Old Firm’ in official communications, which Celtic avoids in deference to parts of their fanbase who believe the ‘Old Firm’ ceased to exist when Rangers went bust in 2012.
But TEG and Left Field Live, the co-promoters of the event, have returned serve, accusing Rangers of bowing to fan pressure and letting down their Australian-based supporters, and rejecting any claim they had gone back on their commitments to the club.
“We were disappointed to wake up this morning to Rangers FC’s statement that it will not be participating in the Sydney Super Cup,” the promoters said in a statement.
“The Rangers Board committed to these matches following extensive negotiations over eight months. Seemingly in response to negative fan reaction, they have pulled out of their contracted commitment.
“We have worked closely with all stakeholders to bring this exciting event to Sydney, and we refute any suggestion that we were unwilling to fulfill our commitments to Rangers. We have acted in good faith and have put the event on sale with a great response from fans here.
“In changing their minds, the Rangers Board has let down many, many fans in Australia and the Asian region. We will now consult with our stakeholders before determining our response.”
The decision to withdraw from the Sydney Super Cup will come at a hefty cost for Rangers, with overseas reports indicating they would be hit with a legal bill for breach of contract in the event of a withdrawal.
It does, however, end any fears of fan violence in Sydney between Celtic and Rangers supporters. Representatives of the Sydney-based fan clubs of both teams had expressed serious concern over policing, logistics and the lack of segregation at not only Accor Stadium but pubs, trains and buses across the city during the week leading up to the November 20 fixture.
Never before have Celtic and Rangers played a match against each other on foreign soil, and it may be some years before such a plan is revisited after this false start.
It’s unclear whether organisers will seek a replacement team for the Sydney Super Cup - which is also slated to involve A-League teams Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers - or if Rangers’ withdrawal puts the entire project in jeopardy. TEG Live was contacted for further comment.
The tournament, announced only last month, was not well-received by Celtic and Rangers fans, some of whom believed the venture would cheapen their age-old rivalry - even though an executive from Rangers said the trip to Sydney would earn them more money in eight days than they would through an entire Scottish Premiership season.
Rangers fans have been staging protests at games to make their displeasure clear to the club’s board, throwing tennis balls and toilet rolls onto the pitch at an away fixture a fortnight ago to express their angst against the Sydney Super Cup, as well as the positioning of their club as a ‘foil’ for Celtic and Postecoglou on his planned homecoming tour.
Celtic, who are three points clear on top of the Scottish Premiership ladder, travel to Ibrox to face Rangers on Sunday night (AEDT) in a match that could be decisive in the title race. | https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/soccer/rangers-could-face-legal-action-after-sydney-super-cup-snub-20220401-p5aa08.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_sport | 2022-04-01T01:00:23Z |
Local housing association, Choice Housing has partnered with the Trussell Trust to provide food parcels to families in need across Northern Ireland. With the significant rise in the cost of living, particularly the continued increase in gas and electricity prices, many are struggling to provide the basics of food and heat.
Recent research indicated that 1 in every 4 children in Northern Ireland are living in a family which is struggling to provide basic requirements of heat, food, clothing, and childcare. Under these pressures many families are at risk of getting into further debt and are heavily reliant on food banks to supplement their financial situation.
Carol Ervine, Choice Group Director of Tenant and Client Services said “As an organisation we are committed to providing more than bricks and mortar and realise that whilst having a home is a human right, there are many who are living with the real threat of poverty and financial instability.
“With the cost of living continuing to rise, the cost of the weekly shop has become significantly higher, and many families are making the decision between heating or eating. Working with the Trussell Trust, we are able to provide much needed food parcels to families in need, with the knowledge that this will ease at least part of the burden”.
The Trussell Trust support a UK network of food banks providing emergency food and support to people in poverty whilst campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. The Trust recently outlined that in the year 2020/21, 2.5m food bank parcels were given to people in crisis in the past year across the UK with close to 80,000 emergency food parcels distributed across Northern Ireland in the same period.
Jonny Currie, Northern Ireland Network Lead from the Trussell Trust said, “We welcome this partnership with Choice Housing providing vital support to our network of food banks in Northern Ireland. Food banks and their volunteers are extraordinary, and their response to need in their communities is inspiring. But that kind of response shouldn’t be needed.
“In the last year in Northern Ireland almost 79,000 emergency food parcels were provided by food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network – and more than 31,000 of these were for children. It’s not right that some of us cannot afford our own food. That’s why we are working towards a just, compassionate future, where no one should have to use a food bank to get by.”
Choice also manage a Financial Inclusion programme, through which they are supporting tenants to improve their money management, ensuring they can maximise their income. In the last year this programme helped tenants access £1.76 million in financial gains, and specialised staff at Choice are continuing to help tenants with benefits, debt, and budgeting advice. | https://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/other-articles/choice-and-trussell-trust-support-ni-families-in-need/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:23Z |
The sound of race cars at the Chicagoland Speedway will, once again, be silent this season. But next season? It’s possible that professional motorsports returns to the oval. Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk joined the Afternoon Rush to speak of the future of Chicagoland.
Officials with the City of Joliet and NASCAR met a month and a half ago to discuss the future of the property. NASCAR is looking to lessen its footprint with several tracks, Chicagoland included, and presented several possibilities in order to do so. O’Dekirk said the only way the city would get serious is if there is commitment to racing at the facility on the city’s south side.
While the track remains dormant of any sports activity, there are still plenty of positions being filled to keep the track in shape, for when the sanctioning body decides to either return to the facility as is, or decide to redesign the 1.5 mile oval
This comes on the heels of NASCAR officials meeting with the City of Chicago to design a street course, currently used on popular racing simulator program iRacing, for possible use for a potential street race through Grant Park, utilizing DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue. While the street course is still not off the table, it’s possible that NASCAR could decide to run the street course and still have a Cup Series date at Chicagoland.
In the meeting with NASCAR, officials said that the Joliet facility still is in the long term plans for racing. Currently, the facility is home for hundreds of vehicles waiting their semiconductor chips. | https://www.wccq.com/positive-future-for-chicagoland-speedway-2/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:23Z |
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And we’re done! Unless you require our assistance. Our transfer team is available for free post-transfer assistance. | https://dan.com/buy-domain/anzhuoyule.com | 2022-04-01T01:00:24Z |
(The Center Square) – Georgia voters soon could decide whether to allow sports wagering and casino gambling.
The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee signed off this week on versions of Senate Resolution 135 and Senate Bill 142. If approved, voters could decide on the measures as soon as November.
Legalizing sports wagering and casino gambling in The Peach State has been an on-again-off-again proposition for years. The passage of the most-recent legislation could face long odds as the state Legislature is in its final days.
“Those of you … that may know you can do sports betting today. It’s on your phone. It’s an app, but keep in mind that money is going offshore to Antigua and some of these other places,” The Associated Press quoted state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, a long-time advocate of expanding gambling in the state. “You’re taxing and regulating, and that’s all, because you’re already doing this particular sports betting.”
Under the measures, proceeds from wagering primarily would benefit education and health care in Georgia.
“It’s basically a gambling everywhere bill that’s going to give the Georgia General Assembly a blank check going forward on gambling,” Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board said in a video posted to Facebook.
The state Senate failed to advance Senate Bill 212 earlier this month to allow Georgians to decide whether to legalize pari-mutuel horse race wagering. | https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/measure-to-allow-gambling-in-georgia-advances/article_635653c0-b13d-11ec-b58b-3bf8a04b9531.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:26Z |
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Ohio Lottery's "Pick 3 Evening" game were:
9-7-3
(nine, seven, three)
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Ohio Lottery's "Pick 3 Evening" game were:
9-7-3
(nine, seven, three) | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio/winning-numbers-drawn-in-pick-3-evening-game/NPIXMKEJLVGU5G3TRYUIKMCP6E/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:25Z |
Anchorage man accused of shooting at police officers during standoff indicted on attempted murder charges
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - An Anchorage man accused of shooting at multiple police officers and injuring one during an hours-long standoff near downtown Anchorage earlier this month has been indicted on 20 felony charges, including attempted murder.
Dillon Spring, 28, was arrested and charged after a standoff with police on March 18 that started when officers were called to an apartment building on East 10th Avenue for a report of someone being assaulted with a hammer. In the course of investigating the report, police said they tried to speak with Spring, who barricaded himself in one of the apartments and was described as not being compliant with officer orders.
When police obtained a warrant and forcibly entered the apartment, Spring began firing at multiple officers, the police department said. Police said Spring struck and injured one officer, who was sent to the hospital and underwent surgery.
According to a Friday press release from the Alaska Department of Law, Spring is accused of shooting at six Anchorage police officers — Dominick Eubank, Brandon Schafer, Sgt. Justin Blake, Bradley Breager, Heather Mitzel, and Jacob Raygor. The release also identifies Eubank as the officer that was injured in the incident.
Schafer had earlier been identified by the Anchorage Police Department as the police officer who fired his weapon back at Spring, though he did not shoot or harm him.
Spring was indicted on six counts of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of first-degree assault and six counts of third-degree assault, according to the law department. If convicted at a trial, Spring faces a potential sentence of up to 99 years in prison for each count of attempted first-degree murder, an unclassified felony.
During the standoff that began early on the morning of March 18, police blocked off Ingra Street from Ninth Avenue to 15th Avenue for several hours until Spring was taken into custody later that afternoon. A SWAT team responded to the scene and officers used several of what Police Chief Michael Kerle later called “distraction techniques,” which can include smoke and loud noises, in an effort to get Spring to exit the building.
According to Kerle, police were able to make verbal contact with Spring and through negotiations were eventually able to “have him walk out of the apartment by himself.”
Spring is in Department of Corrections custody and his bail was previously set at $300,000 cash performance and $300,000 cash appearance, along with electronic monitoring and the requirement that he have a third-party custodian.
He’s scheduled to be arraigned in Anchorage Superior Court on April 1, online court records show.
Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. | https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/04/01/anchorage-man-accused-shooting-police-officers-during-standoff-indicted-attempted-murder-charges/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:26Z |
Ronald Martin Bleicher, of Silver Spring, died on March 21. Beloved husband of Estelle Bleicher; devoted father of Jeffrey Bleicher; loving brother of the late Harvey Bleicher; cherished uncle to Scott (Winn) and Marc (Julia) Bleicher. Contributions may be made to American Heart Association (heart.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care. | https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/ronald-martin-bleicher/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:25Z |
Plan family for better life
What you need to know:
- Unless we employ effective family planning methods, families will lack living space and adequate land for sustenance.
- Effective family planning and birth control contributes to good living, such as reduced maternal and child deaths.
In the 1960s, Kenya recorded an average number of 8.1 children per woman. That improved over 30 years to 5.4 children per woman in 1990s. But owing to scarcity of land and other resources, we need to keep improving; by 2050, the population will be 83 million, from a projected 54 million.
Unless we employ effective family planning methods, families will lack living space and adequate land for sustenance. Effective family planning and birth control contributes to good living, such as reduced maternal and child deaths. It also improves economies, as we are able to budget for the little resources we have. Sizeable families are able to afford gainful child education, health and nutrition.
Family planning keeps girls in school, preventing teenage pregnancy. When families can cater for their members, adolescent girls will not engage in transactional sex. Parents have time to discuss sexuality issues with the children — unlike in families with many children, whose situation is worsened by poverty, underpaid casual labour and misunderstandings due to financial constraints at home.
Unfounded fears
With the increased use of modern contraceptives among married women, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. However, we need more strategies to complement that, including community education, poverty eradication, women empowerment, male involvement in family planning and higher budgetary allocation to reproductive health, as well as training and motivational incentives for community health volunteers and family life education.
It is said education is power. Community education will dispel rumours and myths about family planning. It will save men from unfounded fears, like of vasectomy causing impotence and children with deformities. Population control is everyone’s job. It is the duty of national and county governments to ensure adequate contraceptives are available at health facilities and health providers are continually trained on provision of birth control.
Mr Otieno is a sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate at Naya Kenya. [email protected] | https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/plan-family-for-better-life--3767216 | 2022-04-01T01:00:26Z |
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Michael Comick | https://www.wdiy.org/tags/michael-comick | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
Longtime Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask packed 15 years worth of memories into his career with Boston, and has been left to reflect on those since retiring.
Rask, while speaking to reporters Thursday ahead of taking part in a ceremonial puck drop before Boston’s game against the New Jersey Devils, expressed his appreciation for the organization while also acknowledging that he does not have any regrets about his decision to retire from the league Feb. 9.
And when asked about his favorite moments from his career, one that now ranks him first in wins in the organization, Rask depicted that big-picture appreciation.
“I think it’s just the whole ride,” Rask said. “You know, I had the luxury of playing here my whole career. We had some great teams, made great friends over the years. So I’m very grateful that I was part of that. So I think I just look at it like the whole journey and meeting bunch of different people. A lot of great guys, great players, that stands out the most. But obviously, you know, winning the (Stanley) Cup, won the Olympics, getting that experience and then playing in the Finals twice.
“Those are some memories that stand out, as well,” Rask said.
Rask, who played four games during the 2021-22 season including his final game Jan. 24 in Anaheim, retired as Boston’s leader in wins (308) and second in franchise history in shutouts (52). He compiled a 308-165-66 record during his time in Boston with a 2.28 goals against average and .921 save percentage. | https://nesn.com/2022/03/what-memories-stick-out-to-tuukka-rask-upon-reflecting-on-bruins-career/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
Revamped Daffodil Street Coming to Huntingburg this Weekend
Huntingburg – A revamped Daffodil Stroll will return to downtown Huntingburg April 2nd and 3rd. This weekend the Huntingburg Merchant Association, in what the organization is calling an “Egg-Sale-a-bration”, is urging Dubois County residents to shop local while enjoying the local surroundings on 4th Street. Kimberly...
www.witzamfm.com | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556614553808/revamped-daffodil-street-coming-to-huntingburg-this-weekend | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
The Ondo State House of Assembly has declared the seat of the former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, vacant.
Iroju Ogundeji before he was fired was the lawmaker representing Odigbo constituency 1 in Ondo State House of Assembly.
Rt Honourable Ogundeji was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress before he decamped to Peoples Democratic Party on the 19th of March, 2022.
In a letter transmitted to the House and read at plenary on Thursday, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Ondo State chapter, Engineer Ade Adetimehin said Rt. Honourable Ogundeji Iroju vide a letter to his office has resigned his membership of the APC.
Acting on the letter and quoting section 109(1)and (g) of the 1999 constitution as amended the Honourable House in their resolution noted that Honourable Iroju Ogundeji was no longer competent to represent Odigbo constituency 1 since he has resigned his membership of APC through which he was elected into office.
Following the resolution of the parliamentary meeting held today which was immediately followed with Plenary of the House of assembly, the house upon debate by members present declared the seat of Ogundeji Iroju vacant. The motion was moved by Majority leader, Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi and was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Honourable Samuel Aderoboye, relying on section 109 (1) and (g) of the 1999 constitution as amended. The motion was unanimously agreed to by all members of the house of Assembly present at the plenary.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Rt. Honourable Oleyelogun Bamidele David, noted that having resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress, Rt Honourable Ogundeji Iroju violated the relevant portion of the law as quoted and hence should vacate his seat as representative of Odigbo constituency 1 in the State Assembly.
Oleyelogun added that all benefits and entitlements accruing to his office should be stopped immediately, while a letter to that effect should be forwarded to the Accountant General of Ondo State adding that all government property in his care should be submitted to the Clerk of the House.
The Speaker directed that a letter should equally be forwarded to the Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conduct of bye election into the vacant seat of Odigbo constituency 1 within the next 90 days.
He called on all security operatives in the state to take all necessary action if Iroju parades himself as a member of Ondo state House of Assembly.
Speaking to journalists after plenary, Chairman House Committee on Information, Honourable Olugbenga Omole said the former Deputy Speaker erred in law, having taken the steps he took.
Justifying the position of the House at plenary, Omole maintained that there was no division in the APC to warrant the resignation of Iroju from the party, hence the need for the action taken against him by house in line with the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
SIGNED.
Akogun Olugbenga Omole,
Chairman House Committee on Information,Youth and Sports Development.
31st March,2022. | https://www.ondoevents.com/archives/38424 | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
The Kills – Blood Pressures
You can’t help but like The Kills. While most of their contemporaries are busy trying to dream up new and creative ways to record and distribute music- and generally doing their utmost to get noticed – the transatlantic duo of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince contentedly float under the radar, steadfastly sticking to their lo-fi garage-rock aesthetic. Even with their respective high profile side-projects (Alison as the singer in Jack White’s The Dead Weather and Jamie’s role as Mr Kate Moss), they never go out of their way to court publicity – preferring to maintain their reputation as one of the few mainstream rock acts that actually value their dignity.
Of course, this stubborn refusal to bow to contemporary trends means they risk sounding tired and old hat. Luckily though, The Kills have enough attitude and charisma to make sure every album sounds as fresh and vital as the last – and their fourth album Blood Pressures is no different.
In fact, their dedication to the same formula of grinding guitar hooks and full-on rock-chick posturing actually makes them even more interesting. Yes, it’s nice when bands experiment a bit but sometimes you just want to hear them do what they’re good at. And Blood Pressures has everything that makes The Kills great, as well as a few welcome deviations.
Things get off to a reassuringly Kills-y start with the siren-like guitars and relentlessly grinding tempo of the brilliant album opener ‘Future Starts Slow’, which contains all the snarling, punkish attitude we expect from The Kills. Lead single ‘Satellite’ follows suit – with Hince’s hypnotically dark guitar riffs providing a haunting backdrop for Mosshart’s melodic vocal line.
While most of the album sticks to this distinctive and effective formula, Blood Pressures is not without its surprises. Dreamy Lennon-esque ballad ‘Wild Charms’ punctures the seductive predictability of the garage-rock template, with Hince’s vocals providing a welcome change of pace. Not to be outdone in the balladeering stakes, Mosshart does her best Adele impression on the beautifully fragile and lovelorn ‘The Last Goodbye’, while the shimmering ‘Baby Says’ neatly combines this more emotional and open approach with the brutal efficiency of garage-rock.
As good as these diversions are, Blood Pressures is destined to be viewed as yet another solid and gloriously predictable garage-rock album – which, we expect, is exactly what The Kills intended.
9/10 | http://all-noise.co.uk/the-kills-album-review-blood-pressures/914/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:25Z |
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee woman convicted in the death of a police officer has been sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison.
Ashley Kroese of Thompson's Station was 24 years old on June 18, 2020, when she drove on the wrong side of the road in Brentwood, killing Brentwood police officer Destin Legieza, 30, authorities said.
She was previously found guilty of four charges, including vehicular homicide by intoxication. She was sentenced Wednesday for charges in the crash that killed Legieza, The Tennessean reported.
A blood test after the crash found her blood alcohol content was 0.166%, which is twice the legal limit.
Members of Legieza's family spoke at the hearing.
“Ashley. I don’t think you intended to kill anyone that day,” said Heather Legieza, the officer’s widow. “But you moving forward with the trial when you know what you did was with intention, you should have just taken accountability for your actions."
Kroese, who did not testify at the February trial, read from a statement.
“I can’t pretend to understand what you have been going through. I’ve never lost a husband, a son or a brother, and nothing I can say is able to ease your pain, but I am truly and deeply sorry,” Kroese said. | https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/Tennessee-woman-sentenced-to-8-years-in-officer-s-17049754.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
Revulsion with Putin sparks outcry — and more unity than expected
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has provoked an international outcry that has led to a more unified response from the international community than many might have expected.
It’s also led to a series of surprise moves, form Germany joining efforts to arm the Ukrainian resistance to Switzerland imposing sanctions on Russia.
Germany’s decision to send anti-tank weapons and Stinger missiles to Ukraine represented a reversal of a longstanding policy of not sending weapons into conflict zones. Berlin also said it would boost military spending to above 2 percent of gross domestic product.
“This is really the first time that we’ve seen Germany do that since the end of the Cold War,” said Charles Kupchan, former senior director for European affairs on the National Security Council under the Obama administration.
The moves are good news for the White House and President Biden, who devoted significant time to uniting allies behind a common approach to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin in the event of a Russian invasion.
Russia’s weeklong assault on Ukraine has spawned a refugee crisis and killed thousands of civilians, with world leaders and government officials warning that Russian-led atrocities are likely to escalate.
Widespread revulsion to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has united the global community as well as Democrats and Republicans in Congress — at least for the most part.
“President Putin has been one of the greatest unifiers of NATO in modern history, so I guess that is one thing we can thank him for,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week.
House lawmakers told The Hill they were heartened by resounding bipartisan support for the administration’s strategy toward Ukraine, signaled with spontaneous applause during a classified briefing by senior administration officials at the Capitol on Monday.
Biden also received bipartisan applause when he rebuked Putin during his first State of the Union on Tuesday.
And Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) emerged from the classified briefing for senators on Monday to tell reporters that “the administration has done a really sound job in bringing together our allies and friends from around the world and presenting a united front against a very evil, ambitious leader of Russia.”
Thomas Rid, professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, said during a panel discussion that Putin’s actions had achieved “what no European politician has achieved in a generation, he made the European Union discover its spine.”
He added that Russia’s invasion has managed “to get Germany over historic trauma. The historic trauma was for a long time never to fight again, avoiding wars by not fighting, by not providing weapons, but of course now we have shifted and now have the approach that avoiding war means defending yourself.”
But not all close American allies and partners have fallen in line with Biden’s strategy.
Israel initially held back from condemning outright Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Jerusalem relies on strategic communication with Moscow to carry out military operations in Syria against Iran and its proxy forces.
That hesitation drew pushback from stalwart Israel allies in Congress. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he was “concerned” over Israel’s position but, after speaking with Israeli officials and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., said he is encouraged by new steps from Jerusalem.
This includes Israel voting in favor of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and is delivering a 100-ton humanitarian aid package. Bennett has also reportedly offered Israel to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.
But Zelensky, who is Jewish, told an Israeli news outlet on Thursday that while he is appreciative of support expressed by the Israeli public, “I don’t feel the Israeli prime minister has wrapped himself in the Ukrainian flag.”
“I spoke with the Israeli leadership, we have not bad relations — but these things are tested in times of crisis,” he reportedly said during a press conference in Kyiv.
Graham told The Hill that Jerusalem’s initial hesitation was a “hiccup.”
“I came away pleased,” he said of talks with Israeli officials. “They jumped on the [U.N.] resolution yesterday, they’ve been providing pretty robust assistance, they’re having constant contact with the Ukrainian president and his team, so I think we had a hiccup early on and hope we’re in a better position and I believe we are.”
Another holdout country that is challenging the administration’s global response is India, which has a historically close relationship with Moscow rooted in importing and relying on Russian military equipment.
India abstained from voting at the U.N., in both the Security Council and the General Assembly, on the resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Donald Lu, the assistant secretary of State for South Asian affairs, told lawmakers on Wednesday that the administration has been in a “pitched battle” to get India to more publicly commit itself to the U.S. position against Russia and is weighing sanctions against New Delhi over its Russian military stockpiles.
Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday along with leaders of Australia and Japan under the banner of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a security grouping focused on the Indo-Pacific.
Psaki did not address a reporter’s question over whether India’s relationship with Russia was discussed, saying only that the Quad conversation was “constructive.”
Pakistan is another challenge for the U.S. over its close ties with Russia. Pakistan is a key military partner for the U.S. in its counterterrorism operations in South Asia.
Lu, during the hearing with lawmakers, said a visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to Moscow on the day that Russia launched its invasion against Ukraine has hurt communication between Washington and Islamabad.
“I think we’re trying to figure out how to engage with the prime minister following that decision,” the assistant secretary said.
And China has not backed down from supporting Russia’s position in the conflict, despite reported efforts by the administration to recruit Beijing to help stop war in Ukraine.
Relations between the U.S. and China are at a nadir, and export controls and sanctions recently imposed on Russia by the West may ultimately have the effect of pushing Russia and China closer together.
In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia has resisted calls to increase oil exports to prevent energy prices from spiking for global consumers amid Russia’s invasion.
Psaki on Thursday said that administration officials last engaged directly with the Saudis in Riyadh on global energy markets in February related to Russia’s then-potential invasion of Ukraine, but had no announcements about upcoming communication.
The United Arab Emirates, another key oil exporter, has also resisted taking a public stance against Russia. The UAE abstained from voting on the U.N. Security Council for the resolution against Russia, but voted in the affirmative in the General Assembly.
Yousef Al Otaiba, the Emirati envoy to the U.S., said that relations between Washington and Abu Dhabi are going through a “stress test, but I am confident that we will get out of it and get to a better place,” Reuters reported.
Biden is coming under increasing pressure to impose sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas sector. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday added her name to a list of lawmakers who have backed a ban on U.S. imports of Russian oil.
But the administration has stopped short of targeting Russia’s energy sector thus far in part due to Europe’s heavy reliance on Russian oil and natural gas.
Experts say it’s part of deliberate effort to stay in concert with allies on sanctions policy.
“I think that the Biden administration has been right to put a priority on solidarity, and that’s part because sanctions are most effective when they are broadly applied and in part because I think it’s important to maintain a united front against Putin,” said Kupchan. “In some cases, you maintain a united front by going with the consensus even if that consensus may be less than you want.”
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter. | https://thehill.com/policy/international/596798-revulsion-with-putin-sparks-outcry-and-more-unity-than-expected/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:26Z |
Police still investigating shooting that killed a Midfield teen, injured another
MIDFIELD, Ala. (WBRC) - Midfield Police are investigating a shooting that killed a teen and injured another.
It happened Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in the 400 block of Bessemer Super Highway.
As it stands right now, no one is in custody in connection to this deadly shooting, but police will need the public’s help to find those responsible.
An investigation is underway in Midfield after 16-year-old, Steve ‘Terris Stubbs was shot to death Wednesday afternoon.
Reports say Stubbs was sitting at red light on Woodward Road around 2:30 p.m. when someone started shooting from another vehicle.
Even at a busy intersection, no one knows who did the shooting or the car they were driving.
In the same shooting, a 14-year-old child was treated for a graze wound.
Sadly, Stubbs is Midfield’s first homicide of 2022, but he’s among nine teens killed in Jefferson County this year.
Stubbs attended Midfield High School, where students are on spring break this week.
Midfield City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Shun Williams, released a statement Thursday afternoon saying in part, “Our entire school community is deeply saddened to learn that one of our students was killed in a senseless act of violence Wednesday. Losing any of our children is devastating, and my heart breaks for his family and everyone that knew him.”
Grief counselors will be on hand at the school on April 4 for students and staff.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Midfield Police or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777.
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Copyright 2022 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/04/01/police-still-investigating-shooting-that-killed-midfield-teen-injured-another/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
Gifto (GTO) traded up 44.2% against the US dollar during the 24 hour period ending at 20:00 PM Eastern on March 31st. One Gifto coin can currently be purchased for $0.0694 or 0.00000152 BTC on popular exchanges. Gifto has a total market cap of $53.44 million and $232.14 million worth of Gifto was traded on exchanges in the last 24 hours. During the last week, Gifto has traded up 105.9% against the US dollar.
Here is how other cryptocurrencies have performed during the last 24 hours:
- Binance USD (BUSD) traded 0.3% lower against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00002189 BTC.
- Polygon (MATIC) traded 3.9% lower against the dollar and now trades at $1.62 or 0.00003558 BTC.
- Polygon (MATIC) traded up 1% against the dollar and now trades at $1.65 or 0.00004286 BTC.
- Crypto.com Coin (CRO) traded up 5% against the dollar and now trades at $0.41 or 0.00001075 BTC.
- Dai (DAI) traded down 0% against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00002191 BTC.
- Chainlink (LINK) traded 1.6% lower against the dollar and now trades at $17.01 or 0.00037265 BTC.
- Parkgene (GENE) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $25.59 or 0.00045023 BTC.
- DREP (DREP) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $1.96 or 0.00003398 BTC.
- DREP [old] (DREP) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $1.96 or 0.00003399 BTC.
- FTX Token (FTT) traded down 4.5% against the dollar and now trades at $48.94 or 0.00107216 BTC.
Gifto Coin Profile
According to CryptoCompare, “The GIFTO Protocol is a decentralized universal gifting protocol for 2.2 billion digital content consumption market. GIFTO Protocol allows for the creation and exchange of virtual gifts, built on smart contracts and blockchain technology, that in turn will create a decentralized consumer-driven virtual economic system. Users can Send and Receive GIFTO, the platform's ERC20 token, on any Social Media Platform “
Buying and Selling Gifto
It is usually not presently possible to buy alternative cryptocurrencies such as Gifto directly using US dollars. Investors seeking to trade Gifto should first buy Ethereum or Bitcoin using an exchange that deals in US dollars such as Changelly, Coinbase or Gemini. Investors can then use their newly-acquired Ethereum or Bitcoin to buy Gifto using one of the aforementioned exchanges.
Receive News & Updates for Gifto Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and updates for Gifto and related cryptocurrencies with MarketBeat.com's FREE CryptoBeat newsletter. | https://www.wkrb13.com/2022/04/01/gifto-gto-price-hits-0-0694.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:28Z |
LOS ANGELES, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arixa Capital Advisors, LLC is pleased to announce that Eric Cooper has joined the company as Vice President of Construction. In this role, Mr. Cooper is responsible for enhancing Arixa's construction risk management, through further development of Arixa's funds control program and construction underwriting, as well as building the scalable infrastructure that will allow Arixa to continue to grow its construction lending platform. Mr. Cooper comes to Arixa with over a decade of onsite construction project management experience and five years of construction lending experience.
Prior to joining Arixa, Mr. Cooper was the Vice President of Construction Operations at Genesis Capital. During his five years with that company, he oversaw the development of a nationwide residential construction underwriting program and was responsible for managing the in-house funds control team.
Eric Cooper shares, "As I suspected, Arixa Capital has an incredible culture, talented staff and a fantastic borrower base. I feel lucky and excited to further build out the construction department to best serve both borrowers and investors."
Earlier in his career, Mr. Cooper was the onsite supervisor and project manager for a two-year project, building an ultra-luxury custom home for a celebrity client in the Trousdale Estates neighborhood of Beverly Hills, with the highly regarded general contractor Corbin Reeves. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Cooper was a project manager for ANR Industries, where he oversaw all aspects of luxury single-family residential construction projects in the Los Angeles area, from conceptual design through final sale. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Cooper worked as a project manager for Anchor Loans where he oversaw all aspects of remodeling for single-family residential projects with resale values between $700,000 and $3,000,000.
Arixa Capital's Managing Director, Greg Hebner, said, "We are excited to bring someone like Eric onto the Arixa team. Eric's deep construction experience and his passion for client service is an ideal fit for our team. As Arixa continues to grow its lending business across larger construction projects and new geographies, Eric's extensive industry knowledge will allow us to execute on our growth plans and maintain the high level of service that our clients expect, while also mitigating risk for our fund investors."
Contact:
Eric Cooper
Vice President, Construction Operations
M 818-692-9646
E ecooper@arixacapital.com
About the Company
Arixa Capital is one of the premier private real estate lenders and credit fund managers in the Western U.S., providing small balance loan solutions to lower middle-market residential and commercial investors and developers. Visit www.arixacapital.com for more information on investing or borrowing.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Arixa Capital Advisors, LLC | https://www.nbc12.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/arixa-capital-hires-eric-cooper-vice-president-construction/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:27Z |
Hiblocks (HIBS) traded down 4% against the US dollar during the 1-day period ending at 19:00 PM Eastern on March 31st. During the last seven days, Hiblocks has traded 6.4% higher against the US dollar. Hiblocks has a market capitalization of $24.42 million and approximately $908,975.00 worth of Hiblocks was traded on exchanges in the last 24 hours. One Hiblocks coin can now be bought for $0.0027 or 0.00000006 BTC on popular cryptocurrency exchanges.
Here’s how related cryptocurrencies have performed during the last 24 hours:
- Tether (USDT) traded 0% higher against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00002196 BTC.
- XRP (XRP) traded 5.5% lower against the dollar and now trades at $0.81 or 0.00001787 BTC.
- Polkadot (DOT) traded 5.4% lower against the dollar and now trades at $21.31 or 0.00046768 BTC.
- Shiba Inu (SHIB) traded down 5.9% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0000 or 0.00000000 BTC.
- Wrapped TRON (WTRX) traded up 0.4% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0736 or 0.00000161 BTC.
- Lido stETH (STETH) traded 3.8% lower against the dollar and now trades at $3,256.36 or 0.07147683 BTC.
- EarnX (EARNX) traded up 396,248.3% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0008 or 0.00000002 BTC.
- Bitcoin BEP2 (BTCB) traded 3.4% lower against the dollar and now trades at $45,497.98 or 0.99867686 BTC.
- stETH (Lido) (STETH) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $3,479.19 or 0.06807369 BTC.
- Internet Computer (ICP) traded down 4.7% against the dollar and now trades at $20.87 or 0.00045805 BTC.
About Hiblocks
According to CryptoCompare, “hiblocks is a blockchain-based social media curation platform that provides rewards for its curators. Through a simplified sharing process, users can easily curate through content sharing. Users earn HiTokens through various activities on the platform. “
Hiblocks Coin Trading
It is usually not presently possible to purchase alternative cryptocurrencies such as Hiblocks directly using U.S. dollars. Investors seeking to trade Hiblocks should first purchase Bitcoin or Ethereum using an exchange that deals in U.S. dollars such as Changelly, GDAX or Gemini. Investors can then use their newly-acquired Bitcoin or Ethereum to purchase Hiblocks using one of the exchanges listed above.
Receive News & Updates for Hiblocks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and updates for Hiblocks and related cryptocurrencies with MarketBeat.com's FREE CryptoBeat newsletter. | https://www.wkrb13.com/2022/04/01/hiblocks-hibs-hits-market-cap-of-24-42-million.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:28Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television."
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton | https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/Oscars-producer-says-police-offered-to-arrest-17049804.php | 2022-04-01T01:00:29Z |
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Albany
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06:35
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09:10
R6 RTG 58+ Handicap
1600m
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, RTG58+, Handicap
Class:
2-Y-O & Up, RTG58+, Handicap
Prize:
$20,000
1st:
$11,600
2nd:
$4,000
3rd:
$1,800
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RAIL - +4m Entire Cutaway applies.
Friday 01 April 2022 08:40AM
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Yes | https://www.racenet.com.au/results/horse-racing/albany-20220401/pelicans-handicap-race-6 | 2022-04-01T01:00:29Z |
RDS questions accuracy of antigen cases
published : 1 Apr 2022 at 06:14
newspaper section: News
writer: Post Reporters
The Rural Doctor Society (RDS) has raised questions over the accuracy of the number of new Covid-19 cases detected using a rapid antigen test kit (ATK), which is reported daily by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The number of new infections found via ATK tests in three provinces on Wednesday was far higher than the total number of ATK positive cases nationwide for the same day recorded by the CCSA the following morning, said the group in a Facebook post on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Chon Buri reported 8,323 ATK positive cases, Songkhla 4,839 and Chiang Rai 3,322, adding up to 16,484, said the group whose members are mostly doctors and directors of district hospitals around the country.
Yet the corresponding number from the CCSA for the entire country was 16,079, said the group.
"We, the front-line healthcare workers, are working hard as we aim to bring the number of new infections down by containing the spread of the virus as well as we can," the group said.
"We, too, expect to see a lower number of new cases as we are trying harder to contain the spread of the virus, but making up an ideal figure just isn't the way to go," it noted. "Reporting the actual number of new infections will instead help raise public awareness about the outbreak situation."
The CCSA, meanwhile, said the number of new infections in Thailand is now on the rise, as is the rate of infected patients suffering serious lung infections and the number of Covid-19 deaths per day.
The cumulative number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases recorded in the past week was 176,606, higher than any neighbouring countries, said Dr Sumanee Wacharasint, CCSA assistant spokeswoman, referring to Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Myanmar.
On Wednesday, 27,560 new infections confirmed by RT-PCR testing and 16,079 infections found in Covid-19 tests using ATKs were recorded, she said. Of all 246,770 patients currently either receiving treatment or in isolation, 1,808 are suffering lung infections, she said. Of the latter, 713 are on ventilators, she said.
This clearly indicates an upward trend in not only the number of new infections recorded daily but also the number of infected patients requiring assistive devices for breathing, she said.
Provinces seeing a rise in patients suffering lung infections include Bangkok and Rayong, Dr Sumanee said. | https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2288422/rds-questions-accuracy-of-antigen-cases | 2022-04-01T01:00:29Z |
FRESNO, Calif., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Well Done Moving, Inc. once again shows its appreciation for its local community by offering a moving discount to first responders.
Well Done Moving created this initiative to express appreciation for our local First Responders by offering discounted moving services for the month of April. Sales Director, Lindsey Beasley states, "The success we've experienced is directly attributed to the amazing people of our community. As a family-owned, Fresno-based company, we are proud to be able to give back to a community that has entrusted us with their valuables for over a decade".
First Responders can take advantage of this opportunity within the Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties.
Well Done Moving strives to actively give back to the local community by creating and participating in philanthropic events such as Moving Neighbors in need, Assisting Creek Fire evacuees, and supporting Habitat for Humanity by moving residents into their new homes.
For more information regarding the First Responder discount, please visit our website.
About Well Done Moving:
WDM is committed to creating a culture where employees are appreciated and an extension of its family. The company offers competitive pay and starts its team members off above minimum wage. In addition, it offers PTO/sick time, and team members have the opportunity to earn up to five weeks of vacation. These policies and commitment to the community set Well Done Moving apart in the moving industry and helped it grow into one of Fresno's most trusted local companies.
View original content:
SOURCE Well Done Moving | https://www.fox8live.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/locally-owned-company-helps-community-again/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:29Z |
Exclusive NI Tours new fleet of Range Rovers and XJ Jaguars is offering visitors tours and chauffeur services that transport them in the lap of luxury and deliver special bespoke experiences.
Owner, Trevor Patterson believes that personal service and luxury cars are what makes his company appeal to those who want to see the best of Northern Ireland in style.
“The cars are high-end and that is part of where we set the standard by providing a top quality service,” he explained. “It’s not just like taking a taxi to the Giant’s Causeway for a quick look round or a stop to grab pictures at the Dark Hedges. We provide much more than that.”
Exclusive NI Tours
Exclusive NI Tours offer a range of bespoke chauffeur driven tour itineraries to locations such as the Causeway Coastal Route featuring the Antrim Glens, the Mountains of Mourne, Derry / Londonderry through to Donegal and Belfast.
Those who want something tailored for their own needs can be accommodated, as can those who want to explore their family roots with genealogy trips available. Chauffeured transfers are offered to and from the airport with the option for guests to take in some sights along the way. Equally, for those guests who are on a tight schedule, direct transfers can be offered,
With 10 years experience in delivering high-level driving services, Trevor has been able to tailor the Exclusive NI Tours experience to customers with high expectations.
“While we operate at a very professional level, we offer relaxed tours,” he explained. “We are not about to rush our clients. If they want to have an hour or two for afternoon tea at the Ballygally Castle hotel or stop off for a pint of Guinness at The Crosskeys Inn, that’s not a problem.
“It’s all about making sure they have an enjoyable time and exceeding their expectations.”
In developing the business Trevor was keen to make sure he could show off the best of the country.
“I enjoy showing people the best of Northern Ireland, especially the history I’m really interested in that” he said. “That’s my favourite bit of the job, I’m a person who likes to please a guest. I like when someone comes here, and they’ve enjoyed the day and they’ve had a good time.”
And, one thing that always exceeds what they expect, is Northern Ireland itself.
“They love the scenery,” Trevor said. “They find the Glens mystical and very engaging. They go through the nine Glens and then suddenly they’re on the Antrim plateau. It seems to them that it changes very quickly, and they love that diversity.”
With both the XJ Jaguar and the Range Rover there is flexibility, with each having their benefits.
“Americans are very familiar with Range Rovers and with the space and increased visibility they can enjoy a better view,” he said. “In addition if they are being collected, for example from Dublin Airport there Is tonnes of space, even if they have a lot of luggage.
“On other occasions they prefer the Jaguar, such as when they are going to an evening do, or a black-tie event.”
In addition Exclusive NI Tours has links with Slemish private airfield so can arrange Flexifly private aircraft hire from London City and other airports.
“It is the flexibility that we offer in delivering a unique Northern Ireland experience, with security and safety,” Trevor explained. “And, with a maximum of four for each tour we want every client to feel that they are being pampered and to ensure they have no hassle or worries throughout their time with us.
“They want the Northern Ireland experience in luxury and we make sure they can explore our heritage, folklore, culture and scenery. Of course, they are never short of dramatic photo opportunities.”
For those with specific interest in genealogy, Trevor has linked up with Natalie Bodle of Roots Revealed. Exclusive NI Tours can curate Natalie’s genealogy research into bespoke, one-of-a-kind tours through their family lineage.
To learn more about Exclusive NI Tours pre-planned tours or enquire about a bespoke tour go to exclusivenitours.com | https://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/other-articles/enjoy-northern-ireland-with-exclusive-ni-tours/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:30Z |
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And we’re done! Unless you require our assistance. Our transfer team is available for free post-transfer assistance. | https://dan.com/buy-domain/applecloud.com.cn | 2022-04-01T01:00:31Z |
(The Center Square) – Local governments could see an additional $500 million dollars for their share of state income taxes, something that could help fund local services and control local taxes.
The Local Government Distributive Fund, or LGDF, was instituted when the state implemented an income tax decades ago. The LGDF sends a percentage of state income taxes back to local governments as a way to keep local governments from implementing their own income taxes.
“If the state is experiencing the positive revenues that it says that it is and there are additional resources available, then the money that is rightfully due to local governments should be distributed back to them,” Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole told The Center Square.
State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, has for years tried to restore the LGDF rate to 10%, where it was historically. The rate was knocked down to 6% more than a decade ago. This year, DeLuca is eyeing an increase to 8% for the coming budget that begins July 1.
“It’s a more reasonable number, that’s [an additional] $500 million,” DeLuca told The Center Square. “But I just don’t think it’s reasonable to ask for a billion dollars in one years.”
He said the additional $500 million will go a long way.
“Most municipalities in Illinois do not have taxing authority, they’re non-home rule, and they don’t have the ability to just create a new revenue stream,” DeLuca said.
In Sherman, village President Tervor Clatfelter said getting increased funds will go a long way.
“If we have those revenues put back into our budget, then it allows local city councils to not have to increase or hold the line on any kind of property tax and even any other business tax,” Clatfelter told WMAY.
Cole agreed, local governments will use the increased money to help provide relief to taxpayers.
“Those are dollars that would then go so that municipalities don’t have to raise property taxes, so that they can contribute more to pension obligations and so that they can provide the services that their communities want,” Cole said.
Lawmakers are in session through April 8. It’s expected a spending plan, including how much LGDF will go out to local governments, will be approved before then. | https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/local-governments-look-for-additional-500-million-from-state-income-tax-funds/article_935f59e2-b136-11ec-a00c-a7e787cedd51.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:32Z |
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Ohio Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
1-7-5-6
(one, seven, five, six)
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Ohio Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
1-7-5-6
(one, seven, five, six) | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio/winning-numbers-drawn-in-pick-4-evening-game/K5ZV2BQBZ5HPTI77FCZZLYY2VI/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:32Z |
USDX [Lighthouse] (USDX) traded 1.4% lower against the U.S. dollar during the 1 day period ending at 19:00 PM Eastern on March 31st. One USDX [Lighthouse] coin can now be purchased for $0.0259 or 0.00000057 BTC on popular cryptocurrency exchanges. USDX [Lighthouse] has a market capitalization of $97,789.32 and $17.00 worth of USDX [Lighthouse] was traded on exchanges in the last 24 hours. Over the last seven days, USDX [Lighthouse] has traded 29.7% higher against the U.S. dollar.
Here’s how other cryptocurrencies have performed over the last 24 hours:
- USDX [Kava] (USDX) traded 0.2% lower against the dollar and now trades at $0.97 or 0.00002131 BTC.
- Steem Dollars (SBD) traded 1.8% higher against the dollar and now trades at $5.17 or 0.00011300 BTC.
- USDx stablecoin (USDX) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $1.00 or 0.00008734 BTC.
- Dollars (USDX) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $0.17 or 0.00000432 BTC.
- dForce USDx (USDX) traded flat against the dollar and now trades at $14,024,661.89 or 0.00001722 BTC.
USDX [Lighthouse] Coin Profile
According to CryptoCompare, “USDX is a stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar in a 1:1 ratio. It is backed by LHT – the core cryptocurrency of USDX Wallet. USDX can be quickly and with no fees exchanged to LHT via USDX Wallet app. The combination of the LHT token and USDX stablecoin is boosting global cryptocurrency usage and increasing its safety. USDX Wallet is a blockchain-based transfer money mobile app that enables instant transactions with no borders, intermediaries and fees. The USDX Wallet app guarantees multi-level security for all transactions and instant transfers of assets by username, phone number or QR code. USDX Wallet is based on the exclusive Lighthouse Blockchain. This blockchain is built using tried-and-tested Graphene technology, which provides stability, security and high performance (100,000 transactions per second). To access the USDX whitepaper, please click here. “
USDX [Lighthouse] Coin Trading
It is usually not presently possible to purchase alternative cryptocurrencies such as USDX [Lighthouse] directly using U.S. dollars. Investors seeking to acquire USDX [Lighthouse] should first purchase Bitcoin or Ethereum using an exchange that deals in U.S. dollars such as GDAX, Gemini or Changelly. Investors can then use their newly-acquired Bitcoin or Ethereum to purchase USDX [Lighthouse] using one of the aforementioned exchanges.
Receive News & Updates for USDX [Lighthouse] Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and updates for USDX [Lighthouse] and related cryptocurrencies with MarketBeat.com's FREE CryptoBeat newsletter. | https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2022/03/31/usdx-lighthouse-trading-29-7-higher-over-last-week-usdx.html | 2022-04-01T01:00:33Z |
Critical habitat designated for Arctic ringed, Beringia bearded seals
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries announced that critical habitat for Arctic ringed seals and the Beringia distinct population segment of bearded seals will be designated off the western and northern coastline of Alaska.
Bearded seals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2012 and ringed seals received the listing in 2014, but both faced challenges in court that delayed the designation of critical habitat. The listing of bearded seals as threatened was reinstated in 2017 and ringed seals followed in 2018, according to NOAA Fisheries.
A 2019 lawsuit challenged the NOAA Fisheries for not designating critical habitat in a timely manner. In a settlement agreement to the 2019 lawsuit, the agency committed to determining final critical habitat by April 29 of this year. The final rule by NOAA was filed today.
The announcement posted by NOAA Fisheries states that the designation of critical habitat “does not create a preserve or refuge, and would not affect subsistence harvest of ringed or bearded seals by Alaska Natives.”
Ringed seals can grow up to over four feet long, weigh up to 150 pounds, and live up to 30 years. The NOAA Fisheries lists the factors that threaten the population as offshore oil and gas exploration and development, increased shipping in the Arctic, climate change, and entanglement in fishing gear.
The bearded seals can weigh up to 800 pounds and stretch up to eight feet long, and are threatened by the same factors of climate change, shipping, and oil and gas development.
“Under the ESA, the only regulatory effect of critical habitat designation is the requirement under Section 7 that Federal agencies ensure that their actions are not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. This applies to any activity involving Federal funding, permitting, or authorization that may affect listed species or designated critical habitat,” the NOAA Fisheries announcement said. “The critical habitat overlap with some areas where offshore oil and gas activities occur. ESA section 7 consultations have already occurred for numerous oil and gas projects within the area of the critical habitat designations, specifically regarding effects on bearded and ringed seals as well as endangered bowhead whales.”
Critical habitat differs slightly for the Arctic ringed seals and the Beringia bearded seals, but critical habitat for both will include portions of the Northern Bering Sea, the Northern Chukchi Sea, and the Northern Beaufort Sea. Critical habitat for the ringed seals excludes an area of the Beaufort Sea that is used by the U.S. Navy for testing and training.
The NOAA Fisheries announcement stated that careful consideration was given to potential economic effects, national security considerations and other factors before designating the critical habitat.
Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. | https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/04/01/critical-habitat-designated-arctic-ringed-beringia-bearded-seals/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:33Z |
Wrong time for ‘handshakes’, post-poll deals
What you need to know:
- The Constitution provides for public participation in decision-making so as to hold those responsible accountable to the public.
- Sadly, in Kenya, and Africa, elections have become mere tools for political elites to attain power.
The March 2018 ‘Handshake’ between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga following the contested 2017 presidential election helped Kenya to maintain peace and political and economic stability.
However, it goes against the basic tenets of a presidential system of government, where the will of the people is expressed through the ballot.
The Constitution provides for public participation in decision-making so as to hold those responsible accountable to the public, the taxpayers. Sadly, in Kenya, and Africa, elections have become mere tools for political elites to attain power — a season of political realignments, instead of a critical assessment of performance of previous regime with an intention of voting in better leaders. It is not surprising to hear a candidates telling the electorate that they intent to walk in the footsteps of their predecessors — their performance notwithstanding!
Not surprisingly, the IEBC has continuously missed its target of enlisting eligible voters, most of them youths who recently got their identity cards and who form the majority of voters. At a time that youth unemployment is over the roof, the youth see no value in participating in elections as they believe their votes do not matter.
With President Mwai Kibaki and hi archrival Raila Odinga’s mediated handshake in 2008 and now President Kenyatta nd Mr Odinga’s ‘brotherly’ one having set a precedent, it will be unsurprising to witness one between Mr Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto after the August 9 general election.
While handshakes of whichever nature are welcome, they subvert the will of the people and compromise the very tenets of democracy. First, handshakes or post-election coalitions with the ruling party suggest that elections are not important since political elites can make weighty political decisions without involving their constituents.
Unpalatable deals
Secondly, they could encourage presidential election losers to reject the results simply to increase their stakes and force the winner into a selfish deal. Thirdly, they weaken the opposition, especially in young democracies where parties have no ideological basis and yearn to be in government.
Unlike in parliamentary democracies, where the electorate elects MPs, who, in turn, elect a Prime Minister as leader of the Executive, in presidential systems, the electorate elects the President directly.
The legitimacy of the President is, therefore, based on the majority votes they get in an election and they should not be coerced into unpalatable deals.
Presidential democratic systems have presidential term limits; parliamentary democracies do not as the premier is hired and fired by MPs and is answerable to Parliament. If Kenya is to continue the tradition of handshakes and post-election coalition deals that is gaining pace, it must switch from the presidential to parliamentary system of government, where this is acceptable and envisaged.
Dr Kirui (PhD) is head of humanities education department and lecturer of history and government at the University of Eldoret. [email protected] | https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/wrong-time-for-handshakes-post-poll-deals--3767206 | 2022-04-01T01:00:33Z |
Joe Ryan Named Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starter
When the Minnesota Twins open their regular season on April 7, they will have a rookie pitcher on the mound.
According to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Twins have named Joe Ryan as the club’s Opening Day starter.
Joe Ryan will start for the Twins next Thursday on Opening Day.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) March 31, 2022
Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Nelson Cruz deal, Ryan gets the call over the recently acquired Sonny Gray, becoming the first rookie hurler to start for Minnesota on Opening Day since Tom Hall in 1969.
The 25-year-old has looked sharp in Spring Training thus far, throwing five scoreless innings while striking out six across two Grapefruit League starts.
Ryan started five games for the Twins last season in what was his official Major League debut. In those five starts, the San Francisco, California native compiled a 4.05 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP, and a 30/5 strikeout to walk ratio over 26 2/3 innings.
Ryan could be set for a big year, and his stock is certainly rising in fantasy circles.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Twins at +500 odds to win the AL Central. | https://nesn.com/bets/2022/03/joe-ryan-named-minnesota-twins-opening-day-starter/ | 2022-04-01T01:00:33Z |