The Life News Singapore. Jan 1, 2022 by The Life News

News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 04 Issue 62 Jan. 01, 2022

More than 874 cars burned on New Year’s celebrations in France

TL Bureau, Paris

A sum of 874 vehicles were set ablaze all through France in the midst of New Year’s Eve festivities, a decrease from pre-pandemic numbers, the French Interior Ministry said Saturday. The 874 vehicles consumed in recognition of a decades-old custom was down from 1,316 set on fire in 2019 as the inside service said 2020 numbers were not similar on account of a time limitation instituted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inside Minister Gerald Darmanin lauded law implementation and fire groups for holding the flames in line. Darmanin said police completed 441 captures, up from 376 out of 2019 and set 381 individuals

in authority an increment from 314 of every 2019. In the northern city of Strasbourg, 31 individuals were brought in to be interrogated in the wake of burning down garbage bins and vehicles, CNN announced. Among those addressed were six minors who broke check in time while the rest were addressed for supposed fire related crime, specialists said. Police added that four officials additionally supported wounds. In the focal division of Yonne, specialists said a party of 1,500 individuals was in progress, disregarding COVID-19 limitations. Police were shipped off the scene and an examination was opened for “illicit association of a happy melodic get-together.”

Photo: MotorBiscuit

Pope Francis asks for resolution to stop violence against women as New Year’s Day 2022

TL Bureau, Vatican City

Pope Francis firmly censured viciousness against ladies Saturday in a New Year’s Day lecture zeroing in on the Blessed Virgin Mary and the situation of youthful moms escaping war and struggle. While observing Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on the event of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - - the Roman Catholic dining experience day respecting her as the mother of Jesus - - Francis urged the devoted to put forth more noteworthy attempts to defend moms and secure ladies. “How much brutality is coordinated against ladies? Enough,” he announced. “To hurt a lady is to affront God, who from a lady took on our humankind - - not through a heavenly messenger, not straightforwardly, but rather through a lady.” Likewise stamping Saturday as World Peace Day, the pontiff

analyzed cutting edge moms and their kids escaping clashes and starvation or holding up in evacuee camps to Mary’s

preliminaries in focusing on the child Jesus in critical destitution. Like her, Francis said, the present loyal can help other people to get positive change our reality. “Assuming we become experts of organization, we will actually want to retouch the strings of a world destroyed by war and brutality,” he said. Saturday’s New Year message was the most recent of a few late cases where the 85-year-old pontiff has taken a stand in opposition to savagery against ladies. In his conventional Urbi et Orbi address on Christmas Day, Francis approached God to “solace the survivors of viciousness against ladies that is wild in this season of pandemic.” Furthermore last month in a transmission by Italy’s Mediaset organization, he likewise bemoaned the maltreatment of ladies, refering to “the incredible number of ladies who are beaten, manhandled at home, even by their spouses,” and portraying the viciousness against them as nearly “evil.”

OCLC 1101190095

orth Korean pioneer Kim Jong-un clarified he will put arrangement needs in 2022 on fostering the public economy and supporting antivirus endeavors, as per Pyongyang’s state media Saturday. He conveyed the message during a significant Workers’ Party whole held recently to set the strategy bearings for the new year. The North, notwithstanding, avoided giving the rest of the world new pieces of information to its key approaches connected with between Korean ties and denuclearization converses with the United States, which the South Korean government understood as demonstrating Pyongyang will adhere to the “current arrangement line” under its five-year public improvement project. A few specialists here additionally said the Kim system doesn’t appear to be prepared at this point for the resumption of discourse. In the five-day fourth Plenary Meeting of the party’s eighth Central Committee, which completed the earlier day, members depicted the proceeded with improvement of cutting edge weapons frameworks as a “vital” accomplishment for 2021. Kim went to the meeting. “The tactical climate of the Korean landmass and the pattern of the global circumstance getting instable consistently request that reinforcing the state safeguard ability be further effectively pushed immediately,” the Korean Central News Agency said in an extensive report. Among other plan things were key arrangement bearings for between Korean relations and international concerns “to adapt to the quickly changing worldwide political circumstance and the conditions in the environmental factors.” It didn’t give subtleties

Economy first in 2022. North Korea

on the consequences of important conversations. South Korea’s unification service taking care of between Korean undertakings noticed the North has just referenced “principled issues” and “strategic direction” concerning public safety without elaboration. The North seems to have chosen to react deftly to various conditions in the midst of a “liquid global circumstance” and report its key position, going ahead, when important, it said in a public statement. “[North Korea] featured the reinforcing of public protection abilities as per its own arrangement, yet we observe the way that it didn’t specify key atomic weapons,” the service said. It added, “We will proceed with endeavors to continue between Korean exchange and collaboration at an early date so we can experience conversations on really encouraging harmony on the Korean Peninsula.” Starting another year, the cryptic North has frequently conveyed significant messages on between Korean binds and relations with the U.S. through state media writes about such a significant party meeting or Kim’s extraordinary discourse. It denoted the third back to back year for Kim to have avoided a New Year’s Day address. The KCNA report on the year-end party meeting, expected to survey last year’s strategy achievements

and set the course of 2022 approaches, zeroed in rather on conversations on ways of fostering the nation’s economy and further develop individuals’ jobs. The North again picked antivirus endeavors as a “first concern” in public business. “The crisis scourge anticipation work ought to be focused on in the state work and it is the main work to be capably led with no remittance given to slight slackness, pores and disadvantage,” the KCNA said. Pyongyang has forced a severe line conclusion since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and cases to be Covid free. On the economy, the North carried out a progression of measures to foster the country’s farming area as a feature of endeavors to handle constant food deficiencies. The North is assessed to

editorial

be missing the mark by around 1 million tons of food consistently, with the Covid driven boundary lockdown accepted to have negatively affected the country’s as of now unacceptable food circumstance. On the second day of the whole, Kim requested “significant progressive measures” to address the “rustic inquiries,” recommending they are among the most squeezing assignments confronting the country on the event of the tenth commemoration of Kim’s ascent to control Thursday. The pioneer’s persuasive more youthful sister, Kim Yo-jong, in the mean time, was excluded among recently chose individuals or substitute individuals from the decision party’s strong political agency. Hypothesis had been uncontrolled over a potential change in her height later she was seen remaining close by individuals from the politburo during a commemoration occasion the month before. Kim used to assume a key part in between Korean relations in the midst of an impasse in the Korea harmony process, particularly following the no-bargain Hanoi highest point between the U.S. furthermore North Korea in mid 2019.

Correspondents & Bureaus contacts worldwide Contact us if you have any story worldwide

aus@thelifenews.com.au : Aus nz@thelifenews.com.au : NZ, Fiji & Oceania sg@thelifenews.com.au : Thai, Malaysia, Singapore india@thelifenews.com.au : India SriLanka Nepal usa@thelifenews.com.au : US, Canada & Mexico uk@thelifenews.com.au : UK & Ireland russia@thelifenews.com.au : Russia, Ukraine, Belarus & CIS estonia@thelifenews.com.au : Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania swiss@thelifenews.com.au : Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherland finland@thelifenews.com.au : Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark

FOR LETTER TO EDITOR AND SUGGESTIONS PLEASE REACH US AT thelife.editorial@outlook.com.au Address of Publisher :( Australia & Singapore editions)

The Life (Digital & Print), Dr. M. Parveen, 127 Aberdeen Parade, Boondall 4034, Australia+61 (7)31913325, Email : thelife.editorial@outlook.com.au (For UK edition) , 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX. United Kingdom (For South Africa Edition) N5 Sturdee Avenue Suite 301 RoseBank. Johannesburg, Gauteng 2196 South Africa for advertisement contact manager at thelife.advertisement@outlook.com.au (For US Edition) The life News LLC- (IDAHO) US 784 S Clearwater Loop STE B, Post Falls, ID 83854, USA

3 UAE Records 2,426 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates recorded 2,426 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-190) and two deaths in the past 24 hours. The UAE Ministry of Health and Community Protection stated, in a statement, that the total number of infections rose to 761,937, while the death tally reached 2,164, noting that the recovery tally rose to 745,055, following reporting 875 related cases.

Ministry of Health Reports 819 New COVID-19 Cases, 239 Recoveries in Saudi Arabia

world

S. Korea Emitted 701.3 mln Tons of Greenhouse Gas in 2019 - Environment Ministry Says TL Bureau, Seoul South Korea emitted a total of 701.3 million tons of greenhouse gas in 2019, Yonhap quoted the environment ministry as saying Friday. The 2019 figure, confirmed by the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center, represents a 3.5 percent drop from the 2018 tally, according to the ministry. The decrease came largely from a reduction in power plant emissions from 268.5 million tons to 248.7 million tons and alternative ozone

TL Bureau, London

The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the registration of 819 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 239 recoveries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past 24 hours. The ministry added that the number of critical cases reached 54. The ministry’s statistics showed that the total number of infections in the country reached 556,236, while the recovery tally reached 541,853. The MoH reported 2 new deaths, bringing fatalities tally in the Kingdom to 8,877. The Ministry of Health advised everyone to contact the toll free (937) for consultations and inquiries around the clock, and to obtain health information and services.

As of the morning of 31 December, hospital treatment is being provided to 233 individuals who have been infected with COVID-19. Thirty-three new COVID-19 cases have been opened by hospitals within the past 24 hours. Four new deaths have been added within the same period, including a 72

TL Bureau, Rabat Morocco recorded 2,034 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 963,092. In a statement issued today, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said that 5 new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 14,849, while the total number of recoveries rose to 940,193.

Britain Records 189,846 New Cases of Covid-19 TL Bureau, London

Britain recorded 189,846 new infections of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), along with 203 deaths in the past 24 hours. The British Ministry of Health announced in a statement today that the total number of the virus infections reached 12,937,886, while the death toll jumped to 148,624.

Industrial plants, and farming and waste sectors took up 7.4 percent, 3 percent and 2.4 percent of the total, respectively. Nearly 380 tons of greenhouse gas were emitted per 1 billion won (US$841,000) of gross domestic product, down 5.6 percent from 401 tons tallied in 2018. Gas emission per individual was 13.6 tons, down 3.7 percent from 14.1 tons recorded in 2018. According to the ministry, the 2020 tally is expected to fall to a total emission of 648.6 million tons.

In total, 233 individuals are being treated in hospital due to symptomatic COVID-19

TL Bureau, Riyadh

Morocco Records 2,034 New COVID-19 Cases

layer depleting substances from 8.8 million tons to 6.3 million tons. But road transportation and nonmetal emissions increased by 2.75 million tons and 1.13 million tons, respectively. By industry, the energy sector accounted for 87.2 percent, or 611.5 million tons, of the total emission. The energy sector’s emissions were down by 3.3 percent, or 21 million tons, from 2018 due to restrictions on coal thermal power generations imposed to reduce fine dust air pollution.

year-old woman, a 78 year-old woman, an 81 year-old man, and an 81 year-old woman. Three of those individuals had not been vaccinated, while the vaccination status of the remaining one individual is still being specified. The last 24 hours have also seen 7,653 tests being analysed in Estonia in relation to coronavirus, of which the results of 1,074 were positive. In total, 542 of the new

State-ownership in the energy sector

TL Bureau, Oslo

In the government’s view, private ownership should be the main rule in Norwegian business and industry. Direct state ownership requires a special justification. In the government’s view, there are a number of reasons why the state should exercise ownership of different companies. These relate, for example, to corrections of market failures, the maintaining of important companies, head offices functions and key competence in Norway, the management of common natural resources and sectoral and societal considerations. Beyond there being good reasons for state ownership, the state also possesses specific characteristics which may make it a good owner in a broader perspective. These include the fact that the Norwegian state is a long-term and financially strong owner, which is able to make a positive contribution to

long-term ownership. Along with other long-term investors, the state can contribute to stability and stimulate growth of Norwegian companies and competence building over time. This means that, for the foreseeable future, the state will have considerable direct ownership. In the government’s assessment, the governance of direct state ownership is handled in a professional and responsible way. Through transparency concerning corporate governance principles, respect for the division of roles and responsibilities in corporate legislation, governance through general meetings and an emphasis on choosing competent and independent boards of directors, the exercise of Norwegian state ownership can be seen as advanced, also in an international context. The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy administers the state’s ownership of Gassco AS, Gassnova SF and Statnett SF.

UAE Records 2,556 New Cases of COVID-19, One Death TL Bureau, Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates recorded 2,556 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), and one death, in the past 24 hours. The UAE Ministry of Health and

Community Protection stated that the total number of infections rose to 764,493, while the death tally reached 2,165, noting that the recovery tally rose to 745,963, following reporting 908 related cases.

cases were unvaccinated, while 532 infected individuals had completed the vaccination process. A total of 4,223 vaccine doses have been administered over the past 24 hours, with 588 individuals receiving their first injections. As of this morning, 290,383 individuals had received their additional or booster doses. Of the total population in Estonia, 61.4% are fully vaccinated.

France Breaks Daily Record with More than 232,000 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Paris France reported it had broken its previous daily records of new infections as transmission of the Omicron variant surges. France recorded 232,200 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the largest daily total to date as the recorded infections in the past 24 hours exceeded 200,000 for the third consecutive day.

Egypt Condoles Sudan on Victims of Mine Collapse in West Kordofan State TL Bureau, Cairo Egypt affirmed its full solidarity and sympathy with Sudan following the accident of a mine collapse in West Kordofan State, which resulted in the death of dozens of victims. In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo, Egypt expressed its deep sorrow and sincere condolences to Sudan in this painful circumstance, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Italy Records More Than 141,000 New Cases of Coronavirus TL Bureau, Rome

Italy recorded 141,262 new infections of the novel coronavirus, along with 111 deaths in the past

24 hours. The Italian Ministry of Health announced that the total number of infections reached 6.125.683 as the deaths jumped to 137,402.

Russia Registers 19,751 New Cases of COVID-19 in Past 24 Hours TL Bureau Moscow Russia recorded 19,751 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, which brings the cumulative total to 10,519,733, the federal response center said Saturday, according to

Russian News Agency Sputnik. On Friday, the center reported a daily tally of 20,638 cases. In the same 24 hours, 847 COVID-19 deaths and 33,144 recoveries have been confirmed across the country, the center said.

Jordan Records 872 New Cases of Coronavirus

TL Bureau, Amman

The Jordanian Ministry of Health announced the registration of 872 new infections of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of

infections to 1,064,277. It said in a press statement that the total number of recovery cases rose to 1,020,785, after 3,196 additional cases were recorded, and 31 deaths were recorded, bringing the deaths to 12,684.

Pakistan Records 556 New Cases of COVID-19, 6 deaths

TL Bureau, Islamabad

Pakistan recorded 556 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 6 deaths in the past 24 hours. The National Center for Monitoring Coronavirus Developments of Pakistan reported that the total number of infections reached 1,295,933, of which 10,184 are active cases, while the death tally amounted to 28,933, indicating that the recovery tally amounted to 1256816.

world

Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s New Year’s message, 31 December 2021-22

TL Bureau, Helsinki

During the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced both light and darkness. A year ago we were able to start vaccinations, which have given us protection and security. That said, the virus is unpredictable, and the pandemic is unfortunately not over yet. Over the past year, many people have felt concern and sadness. Many have lost loved ones, worried about the health of their family members or fallen ill themselves. Many have lost their jobs or have been unsure of how they or their loved ones would get by. But amidst the grief, worry and uncertainty, there have also been brighter moments. Thanks to vaccinations, society has been able to open up again and we have been able to meet each other safely. People have lent a helping hand when friends or strangers have needed it. Many have found joy in simple, everyday things. A crisis like this inevitably puts things into perspective. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone in Finland. You have shown flexibility and resilience, and have acted for the common good. You have been

patient in the face of uncertainty. This year has not been an easy one. I hope that as the crisis continues, we can be kind and understanding towards ourselves and each other. The COVID-19 situation in Finland is serious, and the Omicron variant is cause for great concern. The Government’s goal is to increase vaccination coverage and improve vaccine protection among the population. A great deal of work is being done throughout Finland to ensure that third boosters can be administered as soon as possible. Vaccines continue to be our most important tool in the global fight against the pandemic. But as we work to ensure that we have enough vaccines and can deliver them fast enough, we must also do our part to increase vaccination coverage worldwide. No one is safe until everyone is safe. If you have not yet been vaccinated, now is the time. Getting vaccinated is an act of responsibility and a way to protect yourself, your loved ones and all of society. By getting vaccinated, you can prevent our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed. It is a question of solidarity. We all need to do our part to get out of this pandemic. So far, Finland has fared better

in the pandemic than many of our peers when it comes to the effects of the epidemic on health and the economy. By providing timely and adequate support to people and businesses and by introducing recovery measures, we have managed to soften the blows to our economy and boost our ability to recover from them. That said, there are still major risks and uncertainties associated with how the pandemic will evolve. With this in mind, we also need to make sure our economic policies can react as the situation requires, and we must not abandon growthoriented policies prematurely. Managing the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be a balancing act. We must be able to protect people’s health and avoid overburdening the healthcare system while also keeping society as open as possible. Decisions and restrictions must be expedient, proportionate and necessary. It is also clear that as the crisis drags on, society’s resilience will be put to the test. Despite rapid economic recovery during the pandemic, growth is expected to slow down in the coming years. Now is the time to improve our conditions for economic growth in the longer

term. In an economy like Finland’s, economic growth is mainly based on skills, innovation and investments. Given this fact, in autumn of this past year, we appointed a parliamentary working group to explore ways to strengthen research, development and innovation over the long term. The Parliamentary RDI Working Group completed its work in December. In connection with this work, the parties in parliament made a joint commitment to the target of increasing Finland’s research and development expenditure to four per cent of GDP by 2030. As part of its work, the working group drafted a proposal on the guiding principles for developing the RDI system and the measures needed to achieve the 2030 target. The measures proposed by the working group are significant, and implementing them will be essential for the success of Finland’s economy. The stable and predictable implementation of the working group’s proposal will be at the heart of Finland’s economic policy in the years to come. Sustainable growth is also the most effective way to strengthen general government finances. Although performance both in general government

Sustainable development and the rights of indigenous peoples on the agenda during the 2021 Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers

TL Bureau, Helsinki

Finland’s presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers is coming to an end. Although the COVID-19 pandemic naturally affected event arrangements, solutions have also been found. For example, it has become commonplace to arrange remote and hybrid events, with recordings and reports produced for many events that can be used in various contexts, even after the presidency year ends. This documentation will effectively serve the continuity of the presidency and its impact on other future activities. The overarching theme of the year was sustainable development, viewed from an ecological, social and economic perspective. The programme of the presidency reflected a vision of Nordic cooperation that seeks to make the Nordic countries the world’s most sustainable and integrated region by the year 2030. This cooperation seeks to create a Nordic region that is greener, more competitive and more socially sustainable. Here are some selected excerpts from events and themes of the year organised by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. Sustainable development in education The first meeting of the Nordic

Teacher Education Network was held in March, with Nordic teacher education institutes considering the prospects for establishing a Nordic network that would seek to improve the sustainable development skills of teachers at all levels of education. Details of the event: The Nordic Teacher education network’s online kick-off meeting on the topic of sustainable development and Nordic co-operation Sustainable peace was also on the agenda when a seminar entitled Education for Inclusive Peace: the role of education and research in promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the Nordics highlighted the role of women in education and science, in relation to peace and security. A report of this event will be published in early 2022. Details of the event: Education for Inclusive Peace: the role of education and research in promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the Nordics A recording of the event Culture across borders In 2022 the Nordic countries will implement Nordic Bridges, a major cultural programme in Canada that will continue to present Nordic art and culture internationally. The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture joined the Nordic Council of Ministers in launching

an associated interaction between officials of the Nordic countries and Canada in autumn 2021 by arranging Culture and Arts Policy Dialogues between Canada and the Nordics (online). Canadian Heritage served as a local partner in Canada. The themes of the Dialogues were: Cultural Dimension of Sustainable Development and Green Transition in the Field of Culture; Moving Forward: Guiding Principles on Diversity of Content Online; and Export Culture: International Collaboration and the Mobility of People and Ideas. A report on the events will be published in early 2022. Nordic Bridges Several events promoted the operating conditions and competitiveness of the audiovisual sector over the year. In partnership with Nordisk Film & TV Fond (NFTVF), the Audiovisual Collaboration 2021 international discussion series was arranged in the spring to help strengthen links between industry operators and policymakers in the Nordic countries and Europe. Follow-up events will be held in February 2022, and a summary report of the discussion series will also be published in spring 2022. The role of sustainable development in architectural policy was a topic of the New European

Bauhaus project launched by the European Commission. The Nordic perspective of the project was discussed through public workshops arranged jointly by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and Archinfo with a view to finding better ways of living in Northern regions. The report Press release 10.3.2021(in Finnish/Swedish) A joint Nordic discussion on diversity in the performing arts was also part of the Reshaping horizons of hope – Theatre of the Future event held in May. The programme was part of the #StopHatredNow event week, and was linked to the project An inclusive cultural sector in the Nordics arranged during the Norwegian presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2017. Final report of the event (pdf) Intangible capital of indigenous peoples and borderless Sámi education The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture is supporting cooperation related to the intangible assets of indigenous peoples. A conference was held in November on protecting the traditional knowledge and intangible property of Nordic indigenous peoples, such as the Sámi, and the Inuit of Greenland.

finances and the debt-to-GDP ratio has been surprisingly favourable in recent months amidst rapid economic growth, our ageing population means that the longer-term outlook has not changed. Efforts to strengthen general government finances should continue and should focus above all on boosting growth and employment. The backlogs in care, treatment and learning caused by the pandemic will require particular attention for a long time to come. The longer the crisis continues, the more important it is to ensure that the wellbeing backlog caused by COVID-19 does not become insurmountable. We must be able to address problems early on. If we fail to do so, we will pay a high human and economic price for it in the future. In just over three weeks’ time, Finland will hold the first county elections in its history. In the county elections, people will decide on basic services that are important for their everyday lives. Until now, municipalities have been responsible for organising health, social and rescue services, but in future, this responsibility will be assumed by the wellbeing services counties. There are many competent and motivated candidates running in the elections.

Mexico Reports 153 New COVID-19 Deaths, Bringing Total to 299,285 TL Bureau, Mexico City

Mexico’s health ministry has reported 153 more confirmed fatalities from COVID-19, bringing the official death toll in the country since the pandemic began to 299,285, Reuters reported. The report, issued on Thursday, also reported 8,024 new cases, bringing the total to 3,969,686.

Tunisia Reports 1,162 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Tunis The Tunisian Ministry of Health recorded 1,162 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and two deaths, in the past 24 hours. In a statement issued today, the ministry said that the total number of coronavirus cases in Tunisia reached 725,842, while the death tally reached 25,564.

Singapore

REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ENTERS INTO FORCE ON 1 JANUARY 2022

TL Bureau, Singapore City

1. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2022, following the ratification by ten Parties – Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.1 2. Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong said, “The entry into force of the RCEP will provide a boost to the trade and business ties between Singapore and the RCEP parties. We are heartened that many Singapore businesses indicated that they were keen to explore utilising the RCEP Agreement when it enters info force during outreach events. That the RCEP agreement is entering into force about a year after it was signed, is testament to the region’s determination and commitment to deepening economic integration amidst difficult times. We look forward to the swift ratification of the RCEP by all remaining parties so that the full potential

of the Agreement can be realised.” 3. Come 1 January, businesses will be able to enjoy tariff elimination of about 92% for goods traded amongst signatory parties that have ratified the Agreement. They will also benefit from additional preferential market access for specific products including mineral fuels, plastics, other chemical products, miscellaneous food preparations and beverages in selected RCEP markets such as China, Japan and Korea. With streamlined rules of origin and regional cumulation provisions, businesses will have greater flexibility to tap on these preferential market access benefits and be able to take advantage of regional supply chains. 4. Businesses stand to benefit from enhanced commitments above existing ASEAN Plus One free trade agreements (FTAs) in some sectors, as well as a more transparent approach that would provide greater certainty for businesses. Investors also stand to benefit from commitments to prohibit performance requirements and provisions that lock in future

relaxation of measures. 5. The RCEP Agreement is a modern, comprehensive, highquality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership that builds on existing bilateral agreements that ASEAN has with its free trade partners. As the largest FTA to- date, the RCEP covers about 30% of global GDP (US$26 trillion) and 30% of the world’s population. The RCEP Agreement comprises 20 Chapters, including new areas such as Intellectual Property, Competition Policy, e-Commerce, Government Procurement and SMEs. 6. Companies interested in business and investment opportunities in RCEP markets can contact Enterprise Singapore at https:// go.gov.sg/helloesg or refer 1 RCEP will enter into force for the Republic of Korea on 1 February 2022, 60 days after its instrument of ratification was deposited to the MTI website (www.mti. gov.sg/Improving-Trade/FreeTrade- Agreements/RCEP) for more information about the RCEP Agreement.

Please Remain Vigilant and Avoid Crowded Places This New Year’s Eve

2022 Budget Statement to be delivered on Friday, 18 February 2022

11 F&B Outlets and 72 Individuals Penalised for Breaching Safe Management Measures During Stepped-up Enforcement Checks 30 December 2021 – As we prepare to welcome the new year amidst the spread of the Omicron variant, we strongly urge everyone to avoid crowded places and enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebration from home. There will be no fireworks at this year’s New Year’s Eve countdown celebration at Marina Bay to minimise crowding. Instead, fireworks will be set off from heartland locations across Singapore, so that members of the public can enjoy the fireworks from the safety of their homes. On 31 December 2021, the People’s Association Grassroots Organisations will be organising virtual year-end countdown community programmes to connect residents in a safe way. All over the world, particularly in the US, UK and Europe, we have seen a huge spike in Omicron cases. Please do not let our guard down but remain vigilant, exercise social responsibility, and observe the prevailing safe management measures (SMMs). This is to protect your own health and that of your family and friends. In the past week, government agencies have stepped up enforcement checks. 11 food and beverage (F&B) premises and 72

Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, will deliver Singapore’s FY2022 Budget Statement on Friday, 18 February 2022 in Parliament. There will be live television and radio coverage of the Budget Statement. A live webcast of the delivery of the Budget Statement will be available on the Singapore Budget website (www. singaporebudget.gov.sg). The full Budget Statement will be published on the Singapore Budget website after delivery. For real-time updates of key Budget announcements, the public can follow MOF’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MOFsg) and Twitter account (www.twitter.com/ MOFsg). We continue to welcome your views and suggestions for Budget 2022 We thank Singaporeans for providing their views, whether online through REACH’s Budget 2022 microsite, or REACH’s e-Listening Points. You can continue to do so until Monday, 17 January 2022 via www.reach. gov.sg/budget2022. MOF is also partnering the People’s Association (PA) and its grassroots organisations in their virtual Ask Kopi Kakis #shareyourviews engagement platforms to seek public views and suggestions in a convenient and safe manner.

TL Bureau, Singapore City

individuals were penalised for breaching SMMs and Vaccination Differentiated SMMs (VDS). Agencies will continue to step up enforcement at F&B outlets in the year-end period. Breaches at F&B Premises and Other Public Spaces Ten F&B outlets were ordered to close for breaches of SMMs, such as failing to minimise interaction between staff and diners, failing to ensure that groups of diners did not exceed the maximum permitted group size, and allowing diners to consume alcohol after 10.30 pm. One other F&B outlet was issued a composition fine for failing to ensure a safe distance of at least 1 metre between seated customers. Please refer to Annex A for details of offences, and Annex B for photos. 72 individuals were fined for breaches of SMMs and VDS such as gathering in groups larger than the permitted size and mask-related offences. Strict compliance with SMMs is critical for everyone’s safety. During the year- end festive period, agencies will continue stepped-up checks on F&B outlets to ensure that SMMs are strictly adhered to. Firm enforcement action will be taken against operators and individuals who do not comply with SMMs, including the proper wearing of masks. Enforcement action includes prosecution and the revocation of licences.

TL Bureau, Singapore City

Singapore Customs arrests four men and seizes more than 3,200 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes TL Bureau, Singapore City

Singapore Customs arrested four men - three Singaporean and one Malaysian - aged between 16 and 49, and seized more than 3,200 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 28 December 2021. Case Information During the operation conducted at an industrial unit in the vicinity of Loyang Drive, Singapore Customs officers checked on a male suspect as he was approaching a Singaporeregistered van, after he exited the industrial unit. Concurrently, officers moved in to inspect the industrial unit where another male was seen retrieving dutyunpaid cigarettes concealed in bedframes and packing them into canvas bags. The two male suspects were arrested and two Singapore-registered vehicles – a lorry and a van - were also seized. In relation to the case, another two males were subsequently arrested for their alleged involvement in duty-

unpaid cigarettes activities. A total of 3,232 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized during the operation. The total duty and Goods and Service tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $276,010 and $22,140 respectively. Two of the men were charged in court on 30 December 2021 while investigations are ongoing for the remaining two. In addition to duty-unpaid cigarettes, 1,056 boxes of pods and 247 vaporisers were found in the storeroom of the industrial unit during the operation. The case was referred to the Health Sciences Authority for further investigation. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited.

CCCS Revises Competition Guidelines for Greater Clarity and Guidance TL Bureau, Singapore City The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) has completed the review of a number of its Guidelines on the Competition Act 2004 (the “Act”). The Guidelines outline the conceptual, analytical and procedural framework applied by CCCS in administering and enforcing the Act in Singapore. CCCS has revised and published the following Guidelines (collectively, the “revised Guidelines”) which will be effective from 1 February 2022: (a) CCCS Guidelines on Market Definition; (b) CCCS Guidelines on the Major Competition Provisions; (c) CCCS Guidelines on the Section 34 Prohibition; (d) CCCS Guidelines on the Section 47 Prohibition; (e) CCCS Guidelines on the Substantive Assessment of Mergers; (f) CCCS Guidelines on Merger Procedures; (g) CCCS Guidelines on Directions and Remedies; (h) CCCS Guidelines on the Appropriate Amount of Penalty in Competition Cases; and CCCS Guidelines on the Treatment of Intellectual Property Rights. The revised Guidelines considered amendments made to the Act in 20181, findings and recommendations from CCCS’s E-commerce Platforms Market Study2, CCCS’s experience in applying the Act since the Guidelines were last revised in

20163 and international best practices. With changes to the broader legal and business landscapes within Singapore, the revised Guidelines provide greater clarity and guidance to businesses and The amendments to the Act via the Competition (Amendment) Act 2018 came into effect on 16 May 2018. In 2019, CCCS embarked on a market study focusing on e-commerce platforms that compete in multiple market segments offering distinct products and/ or services in Singapore and the South East Asian region. The report setting out the findings and recommendations from the market study was published on 9 September 2020, and is available at this link. The revision came into effect on 1 Dec 2016. competition practitioners on the analytical and procedural frameworks used by CCCS in applying the Act. The revised Guidelines include the following clarification and revisions: The CCCS Guidelines on the Section 47 Prohibition Guidelines were revised to provide greater clarity on issues relating to the assessment of market power and types of potentially abusive conduct in the digital era; (b) The CCCS Guidelines on Substantive Assessment of Mergers were revised to better guide businesses, consumers, and competition practitioners on issues relating to CCCS’s assessment of mergers, such as that for conglomerate mergers and the relevance of proprietary rights and data as barriers to entry or expansion;

6 Notice by MRT corp CONTINUATION OF INTERMITTENT LANE CLOSURES ALONG JALAN IPOH (KUALA LUMPUR BOUND AND KEPONGBOUND) NEAR KOMPLEKS MUTIARA Date: 02 January 2022 - 31 March 2022 Time: 10:00pm – 6:00am; 10:00pm – 10:00am CONTINUATION OF INTERMITTENT ROAD CLOSURE AT JALAN IPOH (KEPONG-BOUND AND KUALA LUMPUR-BOUND) NEAR KOMPLEKS MUTIARA Tarikh: 02 January 2022 - 31 March 2022 Masa: 10:00pm – 6:00am Extension of road closure along Persiaran KLCC (Jln Binjai) on 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022. MGKT wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, may the year 2022 gives us the opportunity to realise our dreams. As we set new goals for the year, let’s make 2022 a better year than the ones before. Stay Safe

MALAYSIA & NEARBY

BUSINESS

Bitcoin Price could explode in 2022 World Bank Loan Will hitting $100K. Elon Musk is hopeful Support Vietnam’s

Economic Recovery

TL Bureau, London

/EINPresswire.com/ -- Many financial activists and crypto trading experts have given various predictions about the expected value of Bitcoin by the end of the forthcoming year with famous businessman and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, estimating the price of the cryptocurrency to go as high as $100,000 As 2021 comes to a close, a lot of traders and investors are on the lookout for tips and hints on which assets to pursue in the forthcoming year. In the cryptocurrency space, there exists much speculation as to what the Bitcoin price will become in 2022. Since the beginning of this year, Bitcoin has had an amazing run, rising by almost 70% and driving the entire crypto market to a combined $2 trillion in value. Many financial activists and crypto trading experts have expressed great confidence in the possibility of Bitcoin prices rising to a new record high before the end of 2022. Popular businessman and CEO of Tesla Inc. Elon Musk recently revealed that his company will accept payment for some of its merchandise in Dogecoin, and has also expressed great optimism that bitcoin price will sustain its bullish rise to hit a record high $100,000 in 2022.In a 2022 crypto outlook recently published by Bloomberg

TL Bureau, Hanoi

Intelligence analyst Mike McGlone, the financial expert predicts that the U.S. will embrace crypto regulation in the new year, and also agrees with Elon Musk that the move will spur “bullish price implications” that could easily see bitcoin price reach the $100,000 milestone. For traders and crypto enthusiasts who have been following the volatile growth trajectory of bitcoin over the years, these predictions are neither unusual nor unrealistic in any way. Bitcoin is notorious for its frequent value appreciation which makes it one of the favorite and most profitable options to invest in. However, despite the encouraging reviews and positive predictions, experts advise anyone seeking to invest in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies to do so either with the help of experienced brokers or by making detailed research by themselves. Thankfully, there exists a software application that was built specifically to aid new and veteran

investors in making profitable cryptocurrency investments. Although not a trading platform itself, the Bitcoin Profit application uses Geolocation to connect investors with top experienced brokers close to them. The app contains a host of impressive features including trade automation capabilities and accurate trade signals backed by state-of-theart security systems and protocols. Interested investors, whether new or veteran, desirous of getting into Bitcoin before the price jumps to $100,000 can simply visit the platform’s website and signup by clicking on this link https:// www.bitcoinprofit.app/signup/. After registration, a Bitcoin Profit representative will call for verification and also discuss financial goals and loss appetite to help new registrants create a profitable investment plan that will ensure they come out on top when the bitcoin price soars.

The Government of Vietnam and the World Bank has signed an agreement for financing of US$221.5 million to support Vietnam’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through policy reforms aimed at improving financial inclusion and spurring greater environmental resilience. “In the spirit of our longterm, trusted and productive partnership, we are proud to support Vietnam at the time when the economy is recovering from the biggest shock of the past decades and when so many uncertainties remain around the pandemic,” said World Bank Country Director for Vietnam Carolyn Turk. “I believe that the range of policy actions supported by this operation will not only create a strong foundation for the immediate recovery from the COVID-19 crisis but also benefit Vietnam in the longer run.” The US$221.5-million-credit is a budget support operation and comes in the form of concessional terms for a period of 30 years with a grace period

of five years. It encourages policy reforms under two pillars. The first supports an inclusive economic recovery by easing the tax burden on businesses, improving access to financial assistance among vulnerable groups, reducing gender gaps in the workplace, and promoting financial inclusion. The second pillar contributes to greening trade policies, accelerating the adoption of e-government, and increasing the uptake of renewable energy. The government has moved quickly in recent months on the implementation of these reforms. The approval of mobile money licenses and the roll out of electronic invoice systems in the country’s largest municipalities are examples of this. The pace of reform is expected to accelerate as part of the recovery package to be discussed at the National Assembly next week. The credit is provided through the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the Bank’s concessional lending window for low-income countries.

Industry experts lead course offering insight into fundamentals of consumer product safety management

TL Bureau, ST. Louis, Missouri

The 2022 Fundamentals in Product Safety Management program, designed for consumer product safety professionals seeking a broad understanding of the components of an effective compliance system, is now open for registration. This was was announced by the Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP). The program starts on March 15 and will be offered in a virtual video conference format for professionals in the United States and its major trading partners around the world. Program instructors include experts in various facets of product safety management involving technical and general areas of management. The line-up of instructors and their topics includes these experts: Don Moffett, widely-known trainer/consultant, Risk Assessment and Management; Michelle Gillice, Partner, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, LLP, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Compliance and Enforcement; Brandon Mueller, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Product Investigations; John Kuppens, Partner, Nelson, Mullins Riley, Supply Chain Management; Mike Gentine, Keller & Heckman, LLP, Regulatory Trends; Chris Harvey, Senior Vice President, Sedgwick Brand Protection, Product Recall Management; Rod Freeman, Partner, Cooley, LLP.

International Product Safety; Rohit Kahanna, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Risk-Informed Decision Making; Kenneth D’entremont, Associate Professor (Lecturer), Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah, Engineering and Ethics; and Jared Fry, Digital and Data Transformation Lead

at Mondelēz International, Best Practices Exercise. For more information and to register, click here. “Our programs feature high quality instructors and motivated product safety professionals seeking to expand their career potential. SPSP is proud to be part of their education process,” said John Barrera, president of SPSP. The program, which was developed in cooperation with ADK Information Services, is based on the 5 Pillars of Product Safety Knowledge developed in 2017 by an SPSP task force of product safety professionals and consulting experts that met over a 6-month period doing research and collaboration. This task force defined 5 key areas that are necessary for product safety managers to master in order to be effective in their responsibilities. The 5 Pillar areas are: 1) the culture of a company; 2) risk assessment and management and hazard analysis and risk reduction, 3) regulatory compliance and laws at the local, state, national and international levels; 4) internal company product investigations to identify risks associated with products that may cause injuries or even death to consumers, and 5) Product recall management and retrieval. These Pillars drive the content of all management programs under SPSP’s sponsorship. Individuals completing the course will receive a Society of Product Safety Professional Certificate of Completion.

FEATURE

Stanford project details how to reimagine global supply chains to be more equitable, fair

Forced labor, modern slavery and human trafficking are endemic issues in global supply chains. A new Stanford project shows how to systematically change a broken system.

TL Bureau, By Melissa De Witte

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global production and distribution, it shone a spotlight on the fault lines running through some of the world’s supply chains, which according to a group of Stanford human rights researchers, have long been fraught with problems. Jessie Brunner and her colleagues saw the pandemic, combined with increased public attention on racism and discrimination – two issues that are so deeply entwined with labor exploitation – as an opportunity to address human rights abuses that are built into supply chain structures. (Image credit: Mike Breger) Modern slavery, forced labor and human trafficking continue to be endemic issues in global production and manufacturing, especially in low-wage, laborintensive industries. Despite governments and private corporationspledging to put an end to exploitative employment practices, the problem persists across the world’s supply chains. Now, a new project, involving researchers from Stanford, Simon Fraser University and Yale, shows how human rights abuses can be rooted out from labor, once and for all. “For years, public and private sector interventions on human trafficking did little more than tinker around the edges,” said Jessie Brunner, director of human trafficking research at Stanford’s Center for Human Rights and International Justice. Just a few months before COVID-19 upended the global economy, business leaders from some of the largest U.S. companies gathered to revise the purpose of the corporation to be more equitable and inclusive and to deal fairly and ethically with their suppliers. As the pandemic exposed and exacerbated inequality across the world, Brunner and the lab saw this as a moment when their work could have significant impact in showing lead firms and governments what they

need to do to accomplish what they sought out to achieve. “The academic community needed to come together to offer evidence-based, actionable solutions to help global business leaders and governments disentangle global supply chains from histories of exploitation.” In November 2020, Brunner cofounded the Re:Structure Lab with Genevieve LeBaron, then at the University of Sheffield, to examine the ways in which global supply chains can be restructured. Over the past year, Re:Structure Lab released five issue briefs that identify key trends and patterns that lead to labor exploitation and offer concrete recommendations backed by rigorous academic research. Most recently, the team published Blueprint, a guidance document showing how businesses and governments can promote fair, equitable labor standards and protect workers from the kinds of forced labor, exploitation and abuse that have been intertwined with global supply chain for centuries. “Though more than a century has passed since the abolitionist movement, various forms of modern slavery persist across the globe in the 21st century,” said David Cohen, director of the Stanford Center for Human Rights and International Justice and a member of the Re:Structure Lab. “History teaches us to look beyond our limited context and not to be satisfied with apparent partial successes.” Understanding forced labor From chocolate to coffee, cellphones, clothing and cotton, human rights abuses in the supply chain occur at alarming rates: The International Labor Organization estimates that nearly 40.3 million people are in modern slavery – 5.4 victims for every 1,000 people. While companies have taken a public stand against exploitative labor practices and have voiced a commitment to being socially and ethically responsible – issuing “zero tolerance” statements, writing ethical sourcing standards and

producing compliance reporting and audits of the suppliers they work with, for example – it has done little to move the needle on forced labor, the researchers said. Time and time again, media news outlets and non-governmental organizations have uncovered nefarious employment practices. For example, one news investigation of a coffee bean plantation that allegedly supplied two international consumer coffee companies uncovered children as young as possibly 8 years old working under “grueling conditions” in hazardous environments. Another investigation found that a popular U.S. chocolate company that had just branded itself as sustainable also relied on child labor and paid their cocoa farmers poverty wages. Problems of exploitative labor like this persist due to a variety of issues, the researchers said. For example, in the evidence brief Commercial Contracts and Sourcing, the scholars outline some of the problematic patterns that contribute to exploitative practices: high pressure for ship dates; late payments to suppliers (but stiff fines for any delay on their end); corporate demands for goods at rates less than the production cost; and unpredictable ordering patterns. The brunt of the cost falls on people who already live in extreme poverty. Faced with limited access to educational and professional opportunities and other critical elements of human development, the populations made marginalized are often left with no choice but to comply with dangerous working conditions, low wages and underpayment. Some even take on job-related debt, like burdensome recruitment fees – a practice that is far too common, as described in the group’s Worker Debt and Inequality brief. Contributing further to the problem are legal loopholes that enable corporations to skirt accountability for human rights violations. While transparency legislation exists that requires corporations to disclose the

risk of forced labor in their supply chain and describe their efforts to address it, the laws do not get at the root problem or spur any meaningful change, the researchers note in the brief Due Diligence and Transparency Legislation. Rather, transparency legislation is largely cosmetic, they said: Companies can look like they are committed to a good cause but are not held accountable to do so. For example, the U.K.’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015 lacks robust, state-led enforcement or means for remedy, according to the researchers. Furthermore, many companies do not comply with the requirement to publish an annual report on what they are doing to remedy the issue. “There seem to be no real consequences,” Brunner said. Similarly, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act does not go far beyond a requirement of disclosure. While global corporations have been reporting record profits, the share of income going to labor has gradually shrunk. In their brief Labour Share and Value Distribution, the scholars cite data from the International Labour Office (ILO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that show wages falling for the lowest income brackets while increasing for those in the highest. Between an economy increasingly centered on the financial industry, market concentration and repression of labor organizing, the share of value amassed in supply chains that goes to workers has overwhelmingly been driven down, ultimately leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation, the scholars concluded. Focusing on solutions Fortunately, the researchers emphasize, there are solutions to these problems. A key member of the Re:Structure Lab is Luis C.deBaca, who as ambassadorat-large to monitor and combat trafficking in persons during the Obama administration, led U.S.

government efforts in the global fight against current forms of slavery. He is now a professor of the practice at the University of Michigan Law School and an affiliated scholar at Yale University’s Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition. “The persistence of forced labor in the modern economy is often dismissed as an anomaly,” said C.deBaca. “The lab’s work is showing that rather than being an artifact of isolated ‘bad apples,’ worker exploitation is an integral feature of global supply chains and that there are ways to change that.” In the lab’s briefs and Blueprint, the group makes recommendations to business leaders and governments, including moving away from shareholder profit as the primary corporate objective by rebalancing profit allocation toward productive activities, and forming more long-term contractual relationships with supplier firms, as well as investing in both capacity building and technical training to lessen an operation’s susceptibility to exploitation. The Re:Structure Lab members hope their research and recommendations will help provide business and policymakers concrete guidance for building corporations that respect the human rights and dignity of workers and the communities where they operate. “This is a systemic issue that runs across a model of capitalism that is inextricably linked to legacies of slavery, colonization and extraction,” said Brunner. “As such, we all have a role to play in rooting it out – whether in how we vote at the polls, with our wallets as consumers or as a shareholder – by pushing policymakers and business leaders to do better.” Co-Principal Investigator Genevieve LeBaron will join the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University’s Vancouver campus as of January 2022. Cohen is also a professor of classics in the School of Humanities and Sciences.

life and real estate

Reflections on 20 years of the euro: joint article by Eurogroup members

TL Bureau, Brussels

Twenty years ago tomorrow, around 300 million Europeans held a brand new currency in their hands, the euro. From Lisbon to Helsinki to Athens, citizens were able to withdraw euro banknotes in their local ATMs, buy their groceries with euro coins and travel abroad without exchanging currency. The changeover from 12 national currencies to the euro was a one of a kind operation in history: the European Central Bank printed more than 15 billion euro banknotes and some 52 billion coins were minted ahead of 1 January 2002. Building on the expansion of the Single Market, the euro became one of the most tangible achievements of European integration, together with the free movement of people, the Erasmus student exchange programme or the lifting of roaming charges within the EU. On a deeper level, the euro is reflective of a common European identity, symbolic of integration as a guarantor for stability and prosperity in Europe. As the finance ministers and members of the European Commission steering euro area economic policy, we take a collective look back at the past 20

years and identify some priorities for the future of our common currency. The past 20 years – coming of age It is fair to say that the euro has had an eventful first two decades. From the great enthusiasm of its beginnings, the euro has grown to become the world’s second most widely used currency. Our shared currency remains highly popular – about 80% of citizens think the euro is good for the EU - and the euro area has continued to expand, from the 11 initial members, to 19 countries today, and more on the path to joining in the coming years. This progress was made in the face of severe challenges. Some were sceptical about the project already at its infancy. When it reached its teens, there was a wider realisation among the member states and institutions that the architecture of the euro was not originally designed to respond to the seismic shock of the global financial and subsequent sovereign debt crises. This prompted the reform of the euro area’s governance framework, the establishment of a joint support mechanism for countries in financial distress, and a common supervisory system for European banks: a recognition that the solution had to be found in

Statement by President Charles Michel on the 20th anniversary of the euro

TL Bureau, Brussels

20 years already. In many ways, it feels like yesterday. I can remember the excitement of discovering the euro - the banknotes, the coins for the first time. The euro is our money, our European currency, and it is a concrete symbol of success that our citizens carry, every day, in 19 out of 27 member states, and in the pockets of nearly 350 million citizens. That’s quite a journey - the euro has come a long way. It’s a true European achievement. I would even say the euro has become part of who we are and how we see ourselves as Europeans. Part of our mind-set. Part of our European spirit. The euro belongs to all of us, all European citizens. But it isn’t just a success within our EU borders. It has also anchored itself on the international stage. And despite the crises, the euro has proven to be resilient - a symbol of European unity and stability, and never has that been truer than during COVID-19. The euro has served as a bedrock of stability. A stable asset for the Union. The euro also fuels our recovery, unlocking the full potential of sustainable

development, quality jobs, and innovation. A trusted, dynamic and solid currency - an attractive euro will boost our strategic autonomy and help achieve our bold ambitions. A strong international euro gives us more latitude in our geopolitical decision-making, and it also offers greater access to international financial markets. Strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union will make the euro an even more attractive international currency. The euro is also crucial to drive forward our green and digital transitions. The euro is a leading currency for investments in climate-friendly projects - today roughly half of global green bonds are issued in euro. And our joint efforts help fund the massive investments needed to modernise our economies for the 21st century. The euro is also pivotal for our digital transformation. A digital euro could spur greater opportunity for research and innovation. And one thing is clear: massive investments are needed to make a success of our green and digital transitions. That’s why completing the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union is so vital.

greater coordination and deeper integration. These early crises enabled the euro to mature and strengthen its international role. We have also learned valuable lessons that have stood us in good stead in the current pandemic: its borderless nature revealed both the depth of our inter-dependence and the strength of our unity. When the scale of the COVID-19 crisis became evident, it was met with much swifter, more decisive and more coordinated policy action, in contrast to previous shocks. While existing tax and welfare systems worked to cushion the economic impact, the EU took unprecedented decisions to further protect lives and livelihoods, complementing the ECB’s supportive monetary policies. Our collective response included the SURE financial assistance scheme that has contributed to protecting about 31 million jobs, as well as the ground-breaking recovery plan for Europe - Next Generation EU. Our coordinated policy response, coupled with the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, helped the euro area to quickly rebound from the economic effects of the pandemic. Moreover, the financial and liquidity supports provided

were designed to limit the risks of long-term damage so that our economies could rapidly recover lost ground. The next 20 years We have achieved a lot in the first 20 years of the euro, but there is more to be done. We need to keep pace with innovation and promote the international role of the euro. The euro itself must be fit for the digital age. That is why we support and contribute to the ongoing work of the European Central Bank on a digital form of our currency. At the same time, the euro area needs to be further reinforced. While we have set strong foundations to our European banking system, we have more work to do to strengthen our banking union and unlock new opportunities for economic recovery and growth. The same applies to our capital markets: we must take decisive action to improve the way private investments and savings flow across the Single Market to provide much-needed financing to companies, including our SMEs, and in turn create new job opportunities. Investment levels have been too low for too long: we must invest heavily and sustainably in our people, infrastructure and institutions. Coupled with responsible budgetary policies

and the contribution of the private sector, Next Generation EU will play a key role in delivering many necessary reforms and investments. This is the best route we have to boost our growth potential, improve our living standards and tackle the critical challenges facing humanity. We must also ensure fiscal sustainability as our population is ageing. In the context of the review of our common budgetary rules, we need to guarantee that euro area fiscal and economic policies are fit for purpose in a changed environment and responsive to future challenges. Our common currency is an unprecedented collective endeavour, and a testament to the unity that underpins our Union. As the world recovers from the pandemic, we must now combine our efforts and resources to reap the benefits of a rapidly digitalising world and to tackle the climate emergency. None of these issues can be addressed by countries acting alone. The euro is proof of what we can achieve when we work together – looking ahead to the next 20 years, let’s make it a symbol of our commitment to secure a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future for coming generations.

3 BR/1 BA Brick Home w/2 Car Garage/Shop on 2+/- Acres in Greene County VA set for Auction by Nicholls Auction Marketing

TL Bureau, Fredericksburg

EINPresswire.com/ -- Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, Inc., (www.nichollsauction.com) announces the auction of a 3 bedroom/1 bath brick home on 2.68 +/- acres w/full finished basement, detached 2 car garage/shop and large deck near Charlottesville, VA, on Wednesday, January 5 according to John Nicholls, president of the company. “We have been entrusted by the Estate Executor to market and sell this well-built Greene County home. This home can be occupied immediately, personalized at the new owner’s leisure, and will make a wonderful primary residence or investment property,” said Nicholls. “Bid Your Price and Make it Yours!” “Conveniently located only 1 mile from Rts. 29 & 33 and downtown Ruckersville, the property is a very short drive to Charlottesville (Airport, University of Virginia, Hospitals & more!!), Orange & Culpeper,” said Tony Wilson, Nicholls Auction Marketing Group auction coordinator.

The auction’s date, address and highlights follow below noted Wilson. • This homes measures 2,334 +/sf. (1,167 +/- sf. on main level & 1,167 +/- sf. finished basement), and features a kitchen (all appliances convey); living room w/fireplace

(insert conveys); dining room; full finished basement; attic w/pull down stairs; laundry area (washer/ dryer convey) • Hardwood flooring; carpet over existing hardwood in bedrooms; ceramic tile in bathroom; Armstrong laminate in kitchen.

SPORTS

Chelsea v Liverpool to be first football match to trial safe standing in England and Wales on 2 January Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston recently met football supporters at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC

TL Bureau, London Left to right: Ken Scott, Sports Grounds Safety Authority, Kevin Miles, Football Supporters’ Association, Nigel Huddleston, Sports Minister Football fans will be able to stand in some of the biggest stadia in England and Wales from tomorrow (2 January), as the Government launches its landmark trial of safe standing for the remainder of the domestic football season. Supporters attending Chelsea against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge will see new facilities in use within the Matthew Harding Stand lower tier and Shed End upper and lower tiers. It follows Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston recently visiting the stadium to inspect the arrangements put in place, and meet with fans and club representatives. Five clubs - Cardiff City FC, Chelsea FC, Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC - will be the first in the top two tiers of football to have licensed ‘safe standing’ in designated seated areas for home and away fans, as the Government works towards

Sports Minister in the safe standing area with Ken Scott and Kevin Miles fulfilling its manifesto commitment. The grounds have been selected following an application process, open to all grounds covered by the all-seater policy, led by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA). The clubs involved in the pilot will have to adhere to strict conditions including enhanced use of CCTV, improved steward training, and fans utilising licensed safe standing areas being strictly limited to ‘one person, one space.’ Each supporter will occupy the same area that they would take up if

they were sitting, with a traceable, numbered ticket. Barriers will be in place behind and in front of every individual. Seats must not be locked in the up or down position, so fans can choose to sit if they wish to, and the standing areas must not affect the views of other fans. Standing areas are already commonplace in Germany’s Bundesliga and there are similar examples across the rest of Europe, the United States and Australia. Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, said:

Fans have long campaigned for the introduction of safe standing, so I’m pleased that Stamford Bridge will launch this pilot programme that will allow us to carry out an in-depth trial at some of our biggest stadia over the remainder of the season, and inform a decision on a widespread roll-out. Safety will be absolutely paramount at all times. Detailed work is being carried out to monitor these early adopters, and the SGSA will work hand-in-glove with football clubs, supporters groups, local authorities and the police. The introduction of licensed standing areas follows research conducted during the 2019/20 season, prior to the onset of the pandemic, which found that seats with barriers/independent barriers helped reduce the safety risks related to standing in seated areas. Over the remaining part of the season, research will be carried out at the grounds by CFE Research, to evaluate the implementation of licensed standing areas at early adopter grounds. This research will be provided to the Government to inform its decisions about the potential wider roll-out of licensed standing from the start of the 2022/23 season for Premier

League and Championship clubs that wish to introduce it and have met the strict conditions. Ken Scott, Head of Inspectorate of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), said: The focus of the SGSA is the safety of all fans at sports grounds. We know there is a safety risk arising from fans who persistently stand in seated areas, demonstrated in independent research. The advent of new engineering solutions and the findings from our research has shown this can be managed safely. The early adopters programme will enable us to properly test and evaluate licensed standing areas and advise the Government in its next steps. Kevin Miles, Chief Executive of the Football Supporters Association, said: This is a huge step forward. This is something we’ve been campaigning for 30 years on. It’s great to see people now being offered the choice on whether to sit or stand at a football match. I will feel more secure having that safety rail in front of me there. I think that will make a difference to the confidence of fans in the stands about their own safety.

Preview of NFL Network’s 2021 Week 17 Saturday and Sunday Programming

TL Bureau, California Saturday on NFL Network – ‘Good Morning Football: Weekend’ at 9:00 AM ET ‘NFL GameDay Morning’ Sunday at 9:00 AM ET – Kay Adams 1-on-1 w/ Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Each and every weekend, NFL Network provides extensive programming on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, coverage begins at 9:00 AM ET with Good Morning Football: Weekend, hosted by Colleen Wolfe, Michael Robinson, DeAngelo Hall and Mike Garafolo. On Sunday, NFL Network’s GameDay programming kicks off at 9:00 AM ET with the Emmy-nominated NFL GameDay Morning. Rich Eisen anchors the most comprehensive pregame show on television, joined by Pro Football Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Kurt Warner, former head coach Steve Mariucci, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, analytics expert Cynthia Frelund, contributors Rachel Bonnetta, Kay Adams and Nate Burleson, and various NFL Network reporters stationed across the league. NFL Network’s GameDay coverage continues at 1:00 PM ET with NFL GameDay Live – the ONLY show on television providing in-progress NFL highlights and analysis of

the day’s games – and at 7:30 PM ET with NFL GameDay Highlights, which recaps the entire afternoon. At 11:30 PM ET, NFL GameDay Final recaps the weekend’s games. Sunday at 8:00 AM ET, NFL GameDay View airs on NFL Network with Rachel Bonnetta, Andrew Hawkins, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal providing analysis and predictions for the day’s games. NFL RedZone hosted by Scott Hanson whips around the league providing all of the exciting plays and touchdowns as they happen starting at 1:00 PM ET. Saturday, January 1 on Good Morning Football: Weekend – 9:00 AM ET • Hosts: Colleen Wolfe, Michael Robinson, DeAngelo Hall & Mike Garafolo • Aditi Kinkhabwala previews Rams-Ravens, James Palmer previews Chiefs-Bengals and Jane Slater previews Cardinals-Cowboys • Michael Robinson answers questions from viewers in The Real Mike Rob Report • DeAngelo Hall dives into the film to explain why rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been a huge factor in the Miami Dolphins’ seven-game winning streak • Mike Garafolo has the latest news and notes from around the NFL in Mike Drop • How can quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals keep up with quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys?

• Good Morning Football: Weekend looks at how the Cincinnati Bengals defense can slow down quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs • Good Morning Football: Weekend provides the latest on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s thumb injury as the San Francisco 49ers try to hang on to a playoff spot • How can the Minnesota Vikings keep their playoff hopes alive when they face the Green Bay Packers without quarterback Kirk Cousins? • Good Morning Football: Weekend looks back at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s career ahead of what might be his final home game • Fantasy expert Adam Rank provides fantasy advice you need to hear before you set your lineup Sunday, January 2 on NFL GameDay Morning – 9:00 AM ET Kay Adams 1-on-1 w/ Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin & Steve Mariucci NFL Media Insider: Ian Rapoport Analytics Expert: Cynthia Frelund Contributors: Rachel Bonnetta, Kay Adams & Nate Burleson • Rich Eisen remembers the life and legacy of Pro Football Hall of Famer

John Madden • NFL Generations – Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon break down each other’s film • Q & Kay – Kay Adams catches up with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase • Warner’s Corner – Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci break down the matchup between Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott • Mooch’s Minute – Steve Mariucci explains why wide receiver A.J. Brown could be the key to a Tennessee Titans playoff run • Football 101 – Kurt Warner and Michael Irvin show why quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals offense are so explosive • On the Field – NFL GameDay Morning breaks down how the Dallas Cowboys offense got back on track last week • Players Only – Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner and Nate Burleson discuss what it is like when tensions boil over in the locker room • Receiving Attention – Michael Irvin and Nate Burleson debate if Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has locked up his fourth MVP award

tech/auto

World’s 1st “Wooden” Satellite Planned in Japan for 2023 Launch

TL Bureau, Tokyo

A plan is under way in Japan to launch the world’s first “wooden” satellite in 2023, as its development team aims to harness the environmental friendliness and low cost of wood in space development, Kyodo reported. A satellite whose exterior is made of wood will burn up upon re-entering the

Earth’s atmosphere after the end of its operation, giving less burden on the environment, according to the team comprised of Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co. In addition, it will be cheaper to make than using aluminum, the current mainstream material for a satellite. Because electromagnetic waves can penetrate wood, the satellite

can contain an antenna inside. The planned satellite will be a cube with 10-centimeter sides. Its outside will be covered in wood and solar cells, and it will hold an electronic substrate inside. The state-run university in western Japan and the Tokyo-based wood products company are set to test the durability of wood in space, possibly from February,

using an extravehicular experimental apparatus of the International Space Station. The team, led by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takao Doi, plans to attach on the apparatus wooden sheets with varying hardness, taken from several tree species. The sheets will remain exposed to outer space for about nine months to check their

deterioration. Doi, a program-specific professor at Kyoto University, said if the plan succeeds, it will lead the way to “allowing even children who are interested in space to make a satellite.” Doi became the first Japanese astronaut to take part in extravehicular activities when he boarded the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997.

Automotive Hydraulics System Market Emerging Technological Growth, Future Growth and Business Opportunities 2030

Automotive hydraulics system market report with COVID-19 impact analysis 20212030. The global market is segmented based on application, vehicle type & region. TL Bureau, Portland, Oragon EINPresswire.com/ -- Automotive Hydraulics System Market Outlook 2030 The automotive hydraulic system involves a transmission system that uses pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive a mechanical system. Thus, the hydraulic system functions on the transfer of energy due to the pressure difference between two points. This is radically different compared to the traditional mechanical system, which relies on the system functioning due to the flow of kinetic energy. The hydraulic system is considered more accurate compared to the traditional mechanical drive systems, since the mechanical system can undergo a reduction in efficiency with time because of friction. With the increase in activities of logistics, expansion of the industrial sector, and the tourism sector, the demand for commercial vehicles is expected to increase, which, in turn, is likely to increase the demand for hydraulic systems. Hydraulic systems can store and release energy more efficiently than batteries. Vehicles that need a lot of power are finding hydraulic hybrid drives to be more efficient than electric drives. The most common use of the hydraulic systems in an automobile is power steering, shock absorbers, and brakes. Browse Full Report with TOC @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch. com/automotive-hydraulics-

system-market-A12243 The key players analyzed in the report include Aisin Seiki, Bosch, ZF, BorgWarner, Continental AG, Warner Electric, WABCO, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co., FTE Automotive Group, and JTEKT. COVID-19 Impact analysis COVID-19 has severely impacted the global economy and all the industries throughout the globe. This is mainly due to the disruptions in the supply chain across the globe. The economies across the world have declined as there is a major decline in the demand for products. The production across industries has been limited due to the pandemic resulting in the shortage of raw material. The decline in exports and the disruptions in the supply chain are the major factors contributing to the decline in production. The hydraulics market is thus getting affected by COVID-19. Majority of automotive hydraulic system manufacturers are facing major issues such as closure of factories and unavailability of workforce due to the lockdowns which further affects the production of vehicle as well. Get Sample Report with Industry Insights @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch. com/request-sample/12608 Top Impacting Factors Growing focus on smart hydraulic equipment, increasing number of constructions, and rise in

e-commerce activities are driving the growth of the market. High manufacturing & maintenance costs, and availability of alternative products is expected to hamper the growth of the market. Rising demand for commercial vehicle, and economic development can be seen as an opportunity for the market investments. The automotive hydraulics system market trends are as follows: Growing focus on smart hydraulic equipment Increasing attention to smart hydraulic equipment several companies in the hydraulic ecosystem continue to invest in research and development activities to develop upgraded hydraulic equipment and provide customers with better solutions. For instance, ZF Group launched integrated brake control (IBC), which is a non-vacuum, integrated electro-hydraulic brake apply control unit that can replace the electronic stability control, vacuum booster, and vacuum pump, as associated cables, sensors, switches, and controllers. It offers regenerative braking in a single, integrated unit and covers fuel-efficient power trains, without the need for supplement vacuum pumps. The development of intelligent hydraulic equipment unit is one of the major innovations, this will drive the growth of the market.

To Get Discount, Make Purchase Inquiry @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch. com/purchase-enquiry/12608 High manufacturing and maintenance costs The manufacturing of hydraulic equipment requires metal forging and precise engineering to create a high-quality hydraulic system. There are cost barriers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enter the hydraulics market. Besides the initial manufacturing cost of hydraulic equipment, they also incur maintenance costs over a period. There are several factors apart from oil leakage in hydraulic cylinders that need to be maintained. The quality and finish of the cylinder rod need to be examined regularly. If the rod is bent, it can cause a load shift. Thus high manufacturing and maintenance costs will hamper the growth of the automotive hydraulic system market. Availability of alternative products The hydraulic system is operated by fluid, mainly oil. The leakage of these fluids can cause pollution to the surrounding environment. Therefore, end users who need to maintain a clean and healthy environment will look for cleaner alternatives. One such option is the use of the pneumatic system, which uses the pressure of compressed gas to produce a force in a reciprocating linear motion. Thus availability of alternative products will hamper the growth of the market.

Request for Customization of this Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch. com/request-forcustomization/12608 Key benefits of the report: This study presents the analytical depiction of the automotive hydraulic system market along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets. The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with challenges of the automotive hydraulic system market. The current market is quantitatively analyzed from 2020 to 2030 to highlight the automotive hydraulic system market growth scenario. The report provides a detailed automotive hydraulic system market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in coming years. Questions answered in the automotive hydraulic system market research report: Which are the leading market players active in the automotive hydraulic system market? What would be the detailed impact of COVID-19 on the market? What current trends would influence the market in the next few years? What are the driving factors, restraints, and opportunities in the automotive hydraulic system market? What are the projections for the future that would help in taking further strategic steps?

‘Bijli Utsav’ organized by REC in Varanasi as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

TL Bureau, New Delhi

As part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – to celebrate 75 years of Independence, REC Limited, a public infrastructure finance company under the Ministry of Power organized a ‘Bijli Utsav’ at Karsada sub-station in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Shri PP Singh, Director (Technical) Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited, Varanasi (PuVVNL) along with Shri NK Maurya, Sr. CPM - REC and Shri DK Gupta, Sr. GM – REC inaugurated the event in the presence of other officials from REC and PuVVNL. Numerous dignitaries such as Shri

Ram Charitra, Gram Pradhan Bachchaon, Shri Munnalal Patel, Gram Padhan - Unvaav, Shri Mahendra Patel, Gram Padhan – Karsada and Shri Anil Pal, Gram Pradhan - Chitauni also graced the occasion. Shri PP Singh, Director (Technical) - PuVVNL highlighted the benefits of electricity, the challenges faced during electrification in rural areas and how the quality of life improved with access to power. The event also witnessed several beneficiaries of Saubhagya Yojana who were invited on stage to share their experience. To engage with the villagers, various cultural programmes

Statement by the Prime Minister on the 75th anniversary of Canadian citizenship TL Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the 75th anniversary of Canadian citizenship: “Seventy-five years ago today, the Canadian Citizenship Act became law, marking the start of Canadian citizenship as a legal status. This historic moment established who was – and who could become – a Canadian citizen, and stood as an important expression of our country’s national identity. “The Act also made Canada the first Commonwealth country to create its own citizenship, separate from the one of the United Kingdom, making us Canadians rather than British subjects. Over the years, the Act evolved to become the Citizenship Act and saw various amendments, leading to greater equity and improvements to Canada’s citizenship program. Today, Canadian citizens across the country and around the world proudly share freedoms and rights, while embracing the responsibilities given to them by their status. In the past decade, more than two million people have taken the oath of citizenship to become Canadian citizens. “The Government of Canada recognizes that investing in immigration helps strengthen and grow our economy, but we also know that the pandemic has caused delays for those looking to build a future in Canada. That is why the government is committed to increasing immigration levels and reducing wait times for applicants, while delivering a world‑leading refugee resettlement program and supporting family reunification, so that families can be together sooner. Thanks to this work, and

the support of communities and Canadians across the country, Canada has welcomed more than 400,000 newcomers in 2021 – the most in a single year of our country’s history. “We also know that there is still work to do to make Canada a fairer, more inclusive, and more equitable place for everyone, including new Canadians. No matter their background, a Canadian is a Canadian. Unfortunately, many have faced additional barriers to social and economic participation due to the pandemic. Prejudice, discrimination, and systemic racism also continue to be a lived reality for many immigrants across the country. As we continue the fight against COVID-19, we will keep taking meaningful steps to ensure all Canadians have a real and fair chance at success. “As a country, we are strong thanks to our people, our diversity, and our differences. For generations, immigrants and new Canadians have embodied the values of openness, compassion, and respect that define and unite us. In calling this country home, they have shaped Canada’s identity, and their significant social, cultural, and economic contributions make us the country we are today. We must never forget or take this for granted. “On this day, as we mark the 75th anniversary of our shared Canadian citizenship, I invite each and every one of us to celebrate what it means to be Canadian, and to learn about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Let us reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and values we share as a Canadian family. Together, Canadians from coast to coast to coast can continue to build a stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive country.”

such as Nukkad Natak and a Lok Gayan were held along with that a quiz on various Government programmes, on awareness about usage of electricity, billing, energy efficiency etc. was conducted to impart knowledge to the public. The event concluded with the distribution of LED bulbs as prizes to the winners of the competitions. Given the large gathering, it was ensured that all Covid safety protocols such as social distancing and wearing of masks were adhered to. In addition, masks were also distributed to all the attendees. About REC Limited: REC Limited is a Navratna NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing

and Development across India. Established in 1969, REC Limited has completed over fifty years in the area of its operations. It provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, central/state power utilities, independent power producers, rural electric cooperatives and private sector utilities. Its business activities involve financing projects in the complete power sector value chain; different types of projects include Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Renewable Energy segments. REC’s funding illuminates every fourth bulb in India.

world Morocco Records 2,328 New COVID-19 Cases TL Bureau, Rabat Morocco recorded 2,328 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 965,420. In a statement issued today, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said that 2 new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 14,851, while the total number of recoveries rose to 941,008.

Mexico Reports 143 New COVID-19 Deaths, Bringing total to 299,428 TL Bureau, Mexico City

Mexico’s health ministry on Friday reported 143 more confirmed fatalities from COVID-19, bringing the official death toll in the country since the pandemic began to 299,428, Reuters reported.

Lithuania exchanged 5G application experience with experts from the UK

TL Bureau, Vilnius

The UK, leader in the 5G project testing, shared its experience with Lithuania. In December, Lithuanian and UK experts had a remote session exchanging experience and lessons learned while implementing the 5G testbeds and trials programme, which is similar to the currently developed Lithuanian transport innovations Sandbox. “We want Lithuania to become an open transport innovations laboratory. Building on the experience of other countries, such as the UK, we will strive to apply new generation technologies in a range of different fields, including transport. In Lithuania we already have innovative companies developing autonomous transport and manufacturing electric vehicles or charging points. Using the Sandbox, Lithuania will have even more options to secure its position on the European mobility map as an innovative country,”

commented Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Agnė Vaiciukevičiūtė. The UK has already implemented some innovations developed during the 5G testbeds and trials programme. One of such innovations is a system of 5G technology-based smart intersections where traffic flows are regulated in such a way as to reduce air pollution, traffic congestions and the time spent stopping at traffic lights. 5G has been also applied for the purpose of enabling public transport to collect information on public transport passenger flows, actual traffic situation, vehicle

performance characteristics, etc., with the help of sensors. Access to this data ensures more efficient management of passenger flows and traffic, reduces traffic congestion and makes daily travelling safer, more convenient and better suited to the needs of the drivers and passengers. The 5G implementation experience gained by the experts from the UK could be successfully built upon by the Lithuanian specialists developing the Sandbox initiative. The Sandbox initiative planned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications is a legal, regulatory and financial environment for the testing and putting into practice under real conditions of 5G connectionbased transport innovations in a range of different sectors. For the purposes of continuity, a financial support mechanism is to be developed and EUR 24.5 million are to be allocated for this project under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

President of Ukraine receives Qatari delegation led by Qatar ruling family member Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani TL Bureau, Kyiv President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a Qatari delegation led by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, a member of the ruling Qatari family. “Your visit is a testament to the practical implementation of our agreements reached during the talks with the Emir of the State of Qatar,” the President of Ukraine said. The President of Ukraine stressed the importance of the signed agreements in the field of agricultural cooperation and cooperation in the hotel and tourism industry. “It is important that we already have

the first results of such work – the signing of the relevant memoranda,” Zelenskyy said. The President of Ukraine noted the significant intensification of bilateral relations between the two countries, in particular the existing potential in trade and economic cooperation,

as evidenced by the increase in Ukrainian exports to Qatar by 75%. Zelenskyy said that the State of Qatar is one of Ukraine’s key partners in the Gulf region, and stressed the readiness to ensure food security in Qatar by supplying high quality agricultural products.