The Life News Singapore. Jan 16, 2022

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Vol. 04 Issue 63 Jan. 16, 2022

Ultimately Serbian tennis star out of Australia after losing battle

TL Bureau, Malbourne/Canberra

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was expelled Sunday in the wake of losing a last minute bid in an Australian government court to save his opportunities to contend in the Australian Open in the wake of declining to be immunized against COVID-19.

The Australian government court collectively observed that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was inside his lawful freedoms to drop Djokovic’s visa for the second time Friday because the tennis star’s perspectives on immunizations represented a danger to the general wellbeing and “great request” of the country.

Djokovic has won nine Australian Open titles, including the beyond three, and was looking for a record 21st Grand Slam title. He is attached with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

After the consultation, Djokovic gave an assertion communicating that he was “profoundly frustrated” by the court’s choice and was subsequently expelled from the country on an Emirates trip to Dubai, The Sydney Morning Herald revealed.

“I’m amazingly baffled with the court administering to excuse my application for legal survey of the Minister’s choice to drop my visa, and that implies I can’t remain in Australia and take an interest in the Australian Open,” Djokovic said. “I regard the court’s decision and I will help out the applicable experts

Courtesy: BBC corresponding to my takeoff from the country.”

Djokovic, 34, likewise said that he was “awkward” that he had been the focal point of consideration during the 10-day adventure, which was firmly trailed by the individuals who both help and go against antibodies, and said he would be “investing in some opportunity to rest and to recover.”

“I trust that we can all currently zero in on the competition I love,” Djokovic said. “I might want to wish the players, competition authorities, staff, volunteers and fans the very best for the competition.”

Hawke affirmed that Djokovic had left Australia in an assertion, in which he applauded the choice of the court.

“I invite the present consistent choice by the full government court of Australia, maintaining my choice to practice my

power under the Migration Act to drop Mr. Novak Djokovic’s visa in the public interest,” Hawke said.

“Australia’s solid line security arrangements have protected us during the pandemic, bringing about one of the least passing rates, most grounded financial recuperations, and most elevated inoculation rates on the planet.”

The broadcast hearing Sunday was mentioned by Djokovic’s attorneys in view of the approaching contest.

It was held under the steady gaze of a three-judge board, settling on the choice of the court restricting, while a huge number of individuals overall checked out the livestream.

During the conference, Djokovic’s attorney Nick Wood contended finally that Hawke had not considered the ramifications for keeping Djokovic from contending by dropping his visa, and that the

demonstration of removing his customer from the actual nation “may act to create against inoculation feeling.”

His attorneys additionally contended that Hawke couldn’t have known Djokovic’s present perspectives on inoculation, notwithstanding past remarks the tennis star had made in April 2020 that he was “against immunization,” as announced by the BBC. Legal counselors for Hawke contended that Wood’s charge that the pastor had not considered the results of the choice to oust Djokovic as debatable.“The Commonwealth should not will undoubtedly experience the presence of an outsider inspired by a paranoid fear of what may happen assuming they were eliminated, which is fundamentally what the candidate’s case requires,” said Stephen Lloyd, the public authority attorney for Hawke.

The Association of Tennis Professionals, the administering body for proficient tennis, said in an assertion after the decision that it was proceeding to “firmly prescribe immunization to all players.”

“The present choice to maintain Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa scratchoff marks the finish of a profoundly deplorable series of occasions. Eventually, choices of legitimate specialists in regards to issues of general wellbeing should be regarded,” the assertion peruses.

“Additional time is needed to check out current realities and to take the learnings from the present circumstance.

Regardless of how this point has been reached, Novak is one of our game’s most prominent heroes and his nonappearance from the Australian Open is a misfortune for the game.”

Head of the state Scott Morrison repeated Hawke’s remarks in an assertion after the decision, saying that he invited “the choice to keep our lines solid and protect Australians” and that “solid boundaries are major to the Australian lifestyle just like law and order.”

“Australians have made many penances during this pandemic, and they properly anticipate that the aftereffect of those penances should be secured,” Morrison said.

“Over the pandemic, together we have accomplished one of the least passing rates, most grounded economies and most noteworthy inoculation rates, on the planet.”

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ttorneys for Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic showed up basically in an Australian government court Sunday in a last minute bid to save his opportunities to contend in the Australian Open subsequent to declining to be immunized against COVID-19.

Djokovic has been held at the Park Hotel government confinement office in Melbourne after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke dropped his visa for the second time Friday. The conference comes only one day before the competitor is relied upon to contend with Miomir Kecmanovic, an individual Serbian, in a first-round match.

The tennis star had looked for a clinical exclusion to the country’s prerequisite that all worldwide guests be inoculated to partake in the title occasion, starting off a universally followed debate firmly followed by the people who both help and go against antibodies.

The broadcast hearing Sunday was mentioned by Djokovic’s legal counselors in view of the approaching rivalry. It was held under the watchful eye of a threejudge board, comprising of Chief Justice James Allsop, Justice David O’Callaghan and Justice Anthony Besanko.

Since it was held under the steady gaze of the threejudge board, any choice will be conclusive and can’t be pursued.

During the conference, Djokovic’s legal advisor Nick Wood highlighted news reports alluding to remarks the competitor has recently made with regards to immunizations, to a great extent to guarantee the pastor had not considered

Court hears final appeal from tennis star Novak Djokovic to remain in Australia

the ramifications for keeping Djokovic from contending by dropping his visa.

“This isn’t similar to a visa application situation where the visa candidate expected to fulfill the pastor,” Wood said.

Archives recorded by Djokovic’s attorneys in front of the conference showed that the tennis star’s legitimate group would push back on potential general wellbeing dangers of conceding him to Australia, and the “proof” which Hawke had accessible to him at the time he settled on the choice.

Djokovic had said he was “against inoculation” in April 2020 preceding immunizations were generally accessible around the world, the BBC announced. Djokovic additionally said he “wouldn’t have any desire to be constrained by somebody to take an antibody.”

During the consultation, Wood contended finally - while regularly rehashing the same thing - - that Hawke’s choice to drop Djokovic’s visa briefly time and oust him from

the actual nation “may act to create hostile to immunization opinion.”

“The priest is trying in vain. There was no thought for that end at all,” Wood said.

Hawke’s legal counselor, Stephen Lloyd, said in authoritative records in front of the consultation that the news reports about the tennis star’s past remarks show that Djokovic’s quality in Australia might encourage opinion against COVID-19 immunization - - representing a “hazard to the wellbeing of the Australian people group.”

“That end was not in light of a worry about Mr. Djokovic contaminating

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others,” the report peruses.

Rather, Hawke contemplated that Djokovic was unvaccinated and his lead and position against immunization against COVID-19 “may urge others to imitate him by reason of his prominent and status.”

“There are a few media reports that a few gatherings went against to immunization have upheld Mr. Djokovic’s quality in Australia, by reference to his unvaccinated status,” Hawke had said, as per the records.

Hawke had likewise contemplated that assuming Australians were urged to oppose the immunization and related orders, it would “present an issue for the strength of people and the activity of Australia’s emergency clinic framework,” as per the reports documented by his legal counselor.

After Wood’s contentions that the main proof Hawke had accessible to him were news reports, for example, the BBC article, judges on the court mentioned that “proof” incorporates the “presence of mind” comprehension of solid data before a leader like Hawke.

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world

M6.6 Quake Hits Indonesia’s Java Island, Shakes Capital

TL Bureau, Jakarta

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the main island of Java in Indonesia on Friday afternoon, sending people in high-rise buildings in the capital Jakarta into panic, Kyodo reported.

The 4:05 p.m. quake occurred just off the western tip of the island at a depth of 37 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The country’s Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency

said there was no threat of tsunami from the quake.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said visual reports showed some houses in Banten Province, which borders Jakarta, sustaining damage to their roofs and terraces.

The spokesman said there were no reports of human casualties following the quake. A house is seen damaged in Banten, Indonesia, on Jan. 14, 2022, after a major earthquake off the main island of Java.

NATO-Russia Council meets in Brussels

TL Bureau, Brussels

The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together all 30 NATO Allies and Russia, met

in Brussels on Wednesday (12 January 2022) to discuss the situation in and around Ukraine, and the implications for European security.

General view of the meeting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who chaired the meeting, said: “This was not an easy discussion, but that is exactly why it was so important.” He noted that NATO Allies are ready to meet again with Russia to discuss a number of topics in greater detail and to put concrete proposals on the table. “There are opportunities for constructive engagement which should not be missed, in the interest of security in Europe,” he said.

Statement by the Prime Minister on Thai Pongal

TL Bureau, Ottawa

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Thai Pongal: “This week, the Tamil community in Canada and around the world will celebrate Thai Pongal, the harvest festival.“Thai Pongal is a time of joy, celebration, and community. Traditionally, families and friends gather to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and share Pongal, a sweet

rice pudding. While festivities may look different again this year as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, I know Tamil Canadians will find ways to embody the core values of peace, unity, and compassion at the heart of the celebration of Thai Pongal.

“In January, we also mark Tamil Heritage Month in Canada. It is an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on the rich history, resiliency, and strength of the

Ukraine: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the cyberattack against Ukraine TL Bureau, Brusels The European Union strongly condemns the cyberattack against Ukraine on 14 January.

This cyber-attack against the Ukrainian government websites is unacceptable. Such actions aim at destabilizing Ukraine and spreading disinformation and could contribute to further escalation of the already tense situation.

Ukraine has reacted quickly and decisively to the attacks thanks to its increased cyber resilience.

The European Union and its Member States are in contact with Ukraine and stand ready to provide additional, direct, technical assistance to Ukraine to remediate this attack and further support Ukraine against any destabilizing actions, including by further building up its resilience against hybrid and cyber threats.

We reconfirm our unequivocal support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

Tamil community. It is also a time for us to recognize and celebrate the many contributions Tamil Canadians have made, and continue to make, to our country’s social, economic, and cultural fabric. Together, we will build a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive Canada. “On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating Thai Pongal, here in Canada and around the world, a joyful festival. “Iniya Thai Pongal Nalvazhthukkal.”

The Passing of Zhang Qing, Wife of Human Rights Defender Guo Feixiong

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Ned Price, Department Spokesperson We offer our condolences following the passing of Zhang Qing, wife of Chinese human rights activist and defender Guo Feixiong (also known as Yang Maodong). The People’s Republic of China (PRC) authorities have subjected Guo to years of mistreatment, imprisonment, routine harassment and surveillance, and denied foreign travel for his peaceful advocacy on behalf of the Chinese people.

Guo was detained in January 2021 when he attempted to board a plane from Shanghai to the United States and is currently being held incommunicado. We call on the PRC to immediately grant Guo humanitarian relief and allow his travel to the United States to be reunited with his children and grieve the passing of his wife.

As we and other countries have consistently done, we urge the PRC to live up to its international commitments on human rights and end its use of arbitrary detentions and politically motivated exit bans.

Norway’s key leadership tasks in UN Security Council TL Bureau, Oslo In its second year as a member of the UN Security Council, Norway will co-chair the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security together with Kenya. Norway will also continue to hold the subsidiary body chair positions it was given in 2021.

Norway will continue to chair the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, the Isil (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. Norway will also continue to be penholder on the Afghanistan file and the Syria humanitarian file.

Oversiktsbilde av sikkerhetsrådssalen i FN Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe In 2022, Norway will in addition take on the task of co-chair of the Informal Expert Group of Members of the Security Council on Climate and Security together with Kenya.

‘Climate and security is one of Norway’s key priority areas in the Security Council. There is no longer any doubt that climate change has an impact on international peace and security, and increases the risk of conflict.

The Security Council must step up its efforts to understand and counteract these negative impacts as early on as possible. Norway

will work actively to promote the Security Council’s efforts in this area, for example, by using scientific data systematically,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt.

Norway will continue to have responsibility for some of the key chair positions of the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies in 2022. Last year, Norway was co-penholder on Afghanistan with Estonia. This year, Norway will be the sole penholder. At the same time, Norway will continue as co-

penholder together with Ireland on the Syria humanitarian file. ‘It is a vote of confidence that Norway has received support to continue these important leadership positions. This will enable us both to focus on Norwegian priorities and to help to find common solutions that will genuinely promote international peace and security,’ said Ms Huitfeldt. In a world still dealing with an ongoing pandemic, climate change, increasing poverty, enormous humanitarian needs, high numbers of refugees

and displaced people, and complex conflict situations, it is vital that the UN Security Council’s efforts to prevent conflict and promote international peace and security are successful. The Security Council has a number of subsidiary bodies, including 14 sanctions committees and 7 working groups. It is a long-standing tradition for these to be chaired by the elected members.

Each Council member is represented in all subsidiary bodies.

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New air carrier to start operating in Lithuania

TL Bureau, Vilnius

Jump Air, a new locally registered air carrier, is to start its operations in Lithuania soon. This Italian share capital company plans to cover airspaces of Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East and the Caribbean.

“New air carriers open up new possibilities for jobs and cooperation between businesses, travel agencies, as well as new travelling options for passengers. We are extending our warm welcome to this company in Lithuania,” commented Julius Skačkauskas, Vice Minister of Transport and Communications.

Italian shareholders of Jump Air UAB own and manage companies that carry out aircraft maintenance and other aviation activities in Europe, Africa and Asia. This company has been recognised

by Italian supervisory authorities as suited for the performance of airworthiness management tasks.

Vilnius-based legal, financial and operational centre of the new company employs Lithuanian experts who engage in activity organisation, development and daily maintenance tasks.

Jump Air, which was registered in Lithuania in January 2020, plans to operate charter flights and provide

wet leasing services. The company is also open to cooperation with Lithuanian travel agencies.

At the end of December 2021, Jump Air received an air carrier’s certificate. The company has already applied to the Lithuanian transport safety administration for licence. Upon complying with all the requirements and obtaining its licence, Jump Air will be ready to fly.

Statement by the Prime Minister HRH Crown on the death of Alexa McDonough Prince Condoles TL Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the death of Alexa McDonough, former leader of the New Democratic Party: “It is with sadness today that I learned of the passing of Alexa McDonough, former leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party and the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. “A social worker by training, Ms. McDonough led the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party from 1980 to 1994, and the federal New Democratic Party from 1995 to 2003. Throughout her career, she was a trailblazer for women in politics and an inclusive voice for progressive change in Canadian politics. In the House of Commons, Ms. McDonough was a strong advocate for gender equality, support for marginalized

people, and a more compassionate government.

“Following her retirement from politics, Ms. McDonough served as Interim President of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax for a year and continued her involvement in international development and peace advocacy work. She also received numerous honours over the course of her lifetime, including the Order of Canada in 2009, the Order of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, and several honorary degrees.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms. McDonough, a dedicated public servant, a champion for social justice, and an inspiration to Canadians.”

Japanese Prime Minister on death of former Prime Minister TL Bureau, Riyadh

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has sent a cable of condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

In the cable, HRH Crown Prince expressed his condolences to the Japanese Prime Minister and the family of the deceased, wishing the Prime Minister constant good health and safety.

world

Joint Statement on Serbia’s National Referendum

TL Bureau, London

Office of the Spokesperson The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the European Union on the occasion of Serbia’s January 16 National Referendum.

Begin Text: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union welcome Serbia’s January 16 referendum on constitutional changes as a key step to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the country’s rule of law institutions. We believe that these reforms are a step forward towards Serbia’s alignment with European standards and will support Serbia’s EU accession process.

We have encouraged all Serbian citizens to take part in the

referendum, and believe it is important for eligible voters everywhere to be able to vote in elections and referenda. We note with regret that the Kosovo government has not allowed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to collect ballots of eligible voters living in Kosovo for the upcoming referendum in accordance with past practice. We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice.

We call upon the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions, and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. It is important that both governments achieve progress towards a comprehensive agreement that unlocks the EU perspective and increases regional stability.

North Korea missile tests, January 2022: FCDO statement

FCDO spokesperson statement on the DPRK missile tests that took place on 14 January 2022.

TL Bureau, London An FCDO spokesperson said: We are deeply concerned that North Korea has again conducted two short-range ballistic missile tests. These tests are a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and a threat to regional peace and security.

Alongside our allies and partners, the UK is committed to peace on the Korean Peninsula, upholding the rules-based international system and securing an end

to North Korea’s illegal activities. It is critical that sanctions which target the DPRK’s unlawful weapons development remain in place while its programmes exist.

We urge North Korea to refrain from further provocations, and to return to dialogue with the US.

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment submits informed conclusion on EIA report of Loviisa nuclear power plant

TL Bureau, Helsinki

On 14 January 2022, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment released its informed conclusion on the environmental impact assessment report of Fortum Power and Heat Oy’s nuclear power plant in Loviisa. In the conclusion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, as the coordinating authority, states its view on the significant environmental impacts of the project. The conclusion is based on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, statements and opinions issued, and the Ministry’s own evaluation.

The EIA procedure assessed the

impact of continuing the operation of the Loviisa nuclear power plant by a maximum of 20 years, or alternatively, decommissioning the plant when the current operating licences expire. The valid operating licences for the Loviisa 1 and Loviisa 2 units and the buildings necessary for the management of nuclear fuel and nuclear waste will expire in 2027 and 2030.

In addition to the national EIA procedure, the project was also subject to the transboundary environmental impact assessment specified in the so-called Espoo Convention.

After the EIA procedure, the company will decide whether to

apply for new operating licences for the power plant units or whether to decommission them.

Report meets the requirements of EIA legislation and compares alternatives sufficiently In its informed conclusion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment states that the assessment report meets the requirements of EIA legislation.

The alternatives examined were not found to have such significant adverse environmental impacts that could not be accepted, prevented or mitigated to an acceptable level.

The most significant effect of the nuclear power plant during normal operation is the thermal load of

cooling water in the nearby sea area.

According to the Ministry, the report compares the different alternatives to a sufficient degree.

As a whole, the environmental impacts of continuing the use of the plant are greater than those of decommissioning alone, as in the case of continued use, the plant must eventually be decommissioned anyway. However, the assessment of environmental impacts of the alternatives must also take into account the project’s energyeconomic significance, which is high nationally.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will announce its informed conclusion by public

notice. The Ministry will submit the informed conclusion to the party responsible for the project, the relevant authorities and all those who have received a request for an statement. The conclusion will also be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, which in turn will forward it to the other countries participating in the Espoo Covention procedure.

The informed conclusion, the EIA report and the statements and opinions received during the consultation period have been published on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment at www.tem.fi/ loviisan-yva-selostus

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Singapore

HSA DISRUPTS POLICE INVESTIGATE 242 SCAMMERS AND MONEY MULES IN ISLAND-WIDE TELEGRAM E-VAPORISER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK, ENFORCEMENT OPERATION

TL Bureau, Singapore City

Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions conducted a two-week operation between 1 and 13 January 2022. A total of 149 men and 93 women, aged between 15 and 75, are currently assisting in investigations for their suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules. The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 587 cases of scams, comprising mainly of Internet love scams, e-commerce scams, banking-related phishing scams, tech support scams, China/Government Officials impersonation scams, investment scams, job scams and loan scams, where victims lost more than $7.2 million.

The suspects are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. The offence of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 carries an imprisonment term not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both. The offence of carrying on a business of providing any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 carries a fine not exceeding $125,000, an imprisonment term not

exceeding three years, or both.

The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www. police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

areas that we are inadequate, in terms of our preparedness. From SARS, we developed a set of protocols that is heavily based on contact tracing, quarantine and containment. But once you have a much more infectious disease such as COVID-19, containment is over time not effective. We had to switch our rulebook to one closer to managing influenza. The world is now 55% urbanised. In 2050, it is estimated 68% will be urbanised.

And between now and then, new diseases will hit our countries and our cities. And all cities around the world, where the majority of the population now resides in, will have to come under a system that is prepared enough to protect them, to respond to the disease.

I think ultimately, we want to preserve human lives. You can’t run away from three major factors, which are: How fast a disease spreads – the R as we call it. How well we prevent people from falling severely sick, which is a function of vaccinations. And then if they do fall very sick, how well does the healthcare system respond to it.

And then there is actually a fourth dimension, which is how well the non-medical systems respond to a pandemic like this. Can children go to school? Can people go to work?

Can social amenities continue to open so that people have a sense of normalcy? Does the psychology of the society remain strong, resilient and intact? And these are all key aspects of urban preparedness.

Singapore has learned a lot through two big episodes of SARS and COVID-19. We will continue to learn from other cities and other

member states of WHO. In our capacity as a WHO Executive Board member, Singapore has been working with WHO on championing preparedness, especially in cities and urban settings, which is all we have. While the work started even before COVID-19, the pandemic has magnified the essential role that cities and urban settings play in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from health emergencies.

Three broad perspectives worth highlighting: First, strengthening preparedness in urban settings contributes to the efforts of State Parties in realising their commitments to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

Second, independent experts and distinguished luminaries have strongly advocated for the transformation of global pandemic preparedness and response systems.

This is an important area to follow up on. Finally, we must build on the political momentum to strengthen global, regional, national and subnational preparedness. In closing, I would like to express Singapore’s appreciation of the leadership shown by the WHO during this difficult period. I would also like to acknowledge Western Pacific Regional Director Dr Takeshi Kasai’s leadership in guiding important work done in our region. We must learn from the painful lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that we are prepared for the inevitable emergence of Disease X. But by working together, I believe we will succeed and I am very much looking forward to hearing from all our distinguished speakers today.

WELCOME ADDRESS BY MINISTER FOR HEALTH MR ONG YE KUNG AT INFORMATION SESSION ON STRENGTHENING HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN CITIES AND URBAN SETTINGS

TL Bureau, Singapore City

It has been two years since the emergence of COVID-19 and the world continues to experience the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of our lives. Collectively, I believe we are in a better position than 2020.

We know more about the virus. We have safe and effective vaccines against it. We have diagnostics and therapeutics to help manage the pandemic. We have gained valuable experience in implementing non-pharmaceutical public health interventions to slow down the spread.

However, the world remains in a fragile state as equitable access to medical countermeasures continues to be a challenge in many parts of the world. It is sobering to start 2022 with the observation that both Delta and Omicron are driving up global case numbers at record high levels, stressing even the most wellresourced healthcare systems.

And one day, we will have to confront Disease X. Is the world prepared enough? And in Singapore, we constantly ask ourselves – is our city prepared enough?

As a city-state and an international travel and trade hub, we are especially at risk from infectious threats. During SARS in 2003, we experienced first-hand the economic, health and social devastation that an infectious threat was capable of.

We have thus invested heavily in pandemic preparedness and response over the years and that has put us in a better position to respond to COVID-19.

However even when COVID-19 arrived, we find that there are

SEIZES $200,000 WORTH OF E-VAPORISERS AND COMPONENTS

TL Bureau, Singapore City The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) mounted a 24-hour operation on 6 January 2022 against the distributor and peddlers of an electronic vaporiser (e- vaporiser) distribution network. E-vaporisers and related components, with an estimated street value of close to $200,000, were seized.

Multiple raids were conducted at the residences of the distributor and the peddlers. These include a hotel in Geylang and residential addresses in Yishun and Serangoon.

Two male subjects and one female subject are currently assisting HSA in the investigation. They had used Telegram to illegally advertise and supply such prohibited items to a large number of people in these chatgroups. One of the male subjects was also referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for investigations into suspected drug-related offences. Please refer to the Annex for photos of the raid and items seized.

E-vaporiser smugglers and peddlers are using anonymous messaging applications, such as Wechat and Telegram in a bid to conduct their illegal activities clandestinely. HSA had been closely monitoring the e-vaporiser distribution networks on platforms such as Telegram which are used to sell the prohibited items. Through intense surveillance and intelligence gathering efforts, HSA has successfully disrupted this particular network of peddlers. HSA will continue to monitor such illegal activities and take strong enforcement actions against these offenders.Penalties for

such offences in Singapore 4 HSA would like to remind the public that the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act prohibits the import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of imitation tobacco products.

These include shisha tobacco, smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco such as Gutkha, Khaini, Zarda, e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence. The purchase, use and possession of such products is also an offence.

Any person convicted of this offence is liable to a fine of up to $2,000. All prohibited tobacco items will also be seized and confiscated.

Consumer advisory The purchase, use and possession of e-vaporisers is also prohibited.

Information pertaining to prohibited tobacco products in Singapore is available on the HSA website and more details about the harms of e-vaporisers can be found in this HealthHub article.

6 Members of the public who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can submit a report conveniently using the online form at www.go.gov. sg/reporttobaccooffences.

Alternatively, they can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).

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MALAYSIA & NEARBY

Notice by MRT Corp

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7

BUSINESS

IFC mobilizes new investors to support ODATA expansion in Brazil and boost the digital economy The investment will be made in the expansion of three datacenters​

TL Bureau, São Paulo IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has led a new tranche of financing to strengthen ODATA Brasil S.A.’s investments in its data centers in Brazil. The $30 million (approximately BRL 165 million) in finance will allow the company, a data center infrastructure provider with extensive operations in various market sectors, such as cloud and telecommunications, to expand its operations in the country.

This second stage will complement the initial line agreed in November 2020, comprising $30 million of IFC’s own resources. The project represented IFC’s first data center financing project. For this second disbursement, IFC mobilized two new investors: Itaú BBA and SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation).

The first and second tranche of financing will support the expansion of three data centers in the country, helping to revitalize and boost Brazil’s digital infrastructure. With the largest economy and population in Latin America, Brazil has consolidated itself as the region’s leading data center hub and generates great demand for connectivity. IFC’s mobilization is expected to expand access to independent data center capacity in the country, sustaining the growth of the digital economy and expanding quality digital services for businesses and people.

“IFC, in addition to supporting the financing of ODATA’s new data centers, has contributed to the company’s achieving the best sustainability standards in the market, offering value to society

Project Signing: New World Bank Project to Improve Efficiency, Reliability of Electricity Supply in West Bengal

TL Bureau, New Delhi

and our customers. The arrival of the new funders, Itaú BBA and SMBC, provides even more financial robustness for ODATA to continue to expand rapidly in Brazil and Latin America, contributing to the improvement of digital infrastructure in the region,” says Fernando Jaeger, ODATA’s New Business Director.

“This project supports the growth of productivity and competitiveness in the Latin American data hosting services market. IFC’s mobilization aims to promote greater digital resilience and a sustainable economic recovery in Brazil, in addition to meeting the population’s demand for cloud services,” says Carlos Leiria Pinto, IFC’s Country Manager in Brazil.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, increased investment to prepare Brazil’s digital infrastructure will be key to the country’s economic recovery strategy, expanding information and communication technology-enabled services.

The project will help in the continued development of a wellestablished class of data center infrastructure providers with a focus on wholesale services.

With an established presence in Colombia, Mexico, and Chile, and expansion plans for Peru, ODATA is well positioned to take advantage of the demand for data center capacity in Latin America.

IFC is a key player in financing digital infrastructure in emerging markets and across the globe. In the past decade, IFC committed and mobilized $5.9 billion for telecommunications, media, and technology projects globally.

The Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the World Bank have signed a $135 million project to improve the efficiency and reliability of electricity supply in selected areas in the eastern state of West Bengal.

West Bengal is strategically located along the corridor to the Northeast and to Southeast Asia and plays an important role in facilitating and promoting regional power trade. The state is already facilitating electricity trade with Bangladesh.

Rapid economic growth in West Bengal has resulted in a growing electricity demand at a rate of 4.5 percent in the past five years. The number of consumers served by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) has more than doubled in the past six years to almost 20 million consumers.

The main increase has been in rural areas as the state has reached close to universal electricity access. However, this growth has also put a strain on the finances of electricity distribution companies (Discoms). The COVID-19 crisis has added to this strain, as electricity demand from commercial and industrial sectors—proportionally the largest sources of revenue for Discoms—has plummeted.

The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance stated that “Providing efficient and reliable electricity supply is a priority for the Government of India. The project will help improve the electricity

distribution network in the state of West Bengal to ensure uninterrupted, affordable and quality supply of electricity to all homes, industries and commercial establishments in the state.”

The agreement was signed

by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India; S. Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Power), on behalf of the Government of West Bengal; and Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India on behalf of the World Bank.

“The financial stability of electricity companies is critical to providing efficient and reliable electricity to people.

The pandemic has adversely affected the financial health of electricity distribution companies in India and in turn the financial health of the electricity generation companies,” said Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director in India. “The West Bengal Electricity Distribution and Grid Modernization Project will strengthen distribution networks, invest in smart-grid technologies, and ensure financial sustainability of WBSEDCL. This could serve as an example for other public distribution utilities across India.” In May 2020, the super cyclone, Amphan, caused significant damage to the electricity infrastructure in West Bengal. Support through the West Bengal Electricity Distribution and Grid Modernization Project aims to strengthen

WBSEDCL’s information and communications systems and provide immediate response to similar crises and emergencies.

The project aims to reduce distribution system losses, increase the capacity of the distribution network to meet the growing load demand, improve the overall reliability of the system, make the network resilient to climate disasters, and improve the institutional capacity of WBSEDCL. “The project will support network investments to improve operational efficiency and reduce losses. It will also invest in smart-grid technologies for better load management as well as integration of distributed energy resource,” said Rohit Mittal, the World Bank task team leader for the project.

The Government of India, through its major programs such as Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, has been able to expand electricity access to nearly every household in the country. The project will support the implementation of the Government of India’s 24×7 Power For All Program in the state and support WBSEDCL in transitioning toward a leading public sector utility in India.

The project will be financed by the Government of West Bengal and loans from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the World Bank. The $135 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is a variable spread loan that has a maturity of 17 years, including a grace period of seven years.

or nonprofit organizations are invited to apply.

Overfishing is among the biggest challenges threatening the health of the world’s oceans, the livelihoods of millions living in coastal communities, and the business opportunities of seafood and related industries. Each year, global fisheries lose out on US$83 billion in economic benefits due to overfishing (World Bank “The Sunken Billions Revisited”), a sum that could instead be productively reinvested in people, communities, and economies.

Limited coordination among fishers and seafood stakeholders has

blocked the development of viable solutions to overfishing, resulting in the continued loss of natural resources and economic benefits.

“The Coastal Fisheries Initiative – Challenge Fund is committed to improving coastal fisheries, which are important sources of food and livelihoods for local communities. This competition is a call to action to bring together all of the actors in the seafood industry to tackle this perennial problem of overfishing,” said Mimi Kobayashi, Senior Environmental Economist at the World Bank and team leader of the CFICF. “Although this issue remains

challenging, we are confident that we will receive some innovative and game-changing solutions.”

This competition aims to mobilize the collective power of fisheries and seafood stakeholders to design and implement solutions that systematically reduce overfishing in a self-sustained way by effectively engaging stakeholders.

Solutions should address the restoration of already degraded fish stocks, while protecting people who are impacted when fishing is reduced.

Eligible applicants will receive mentoring and coaching support to improve their approaches and

then can re-apply to increase their chances of winning.

One winner and one runner up will be selected in Cabo Verde, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Peru and announced at a virtual Knowledge Sharing Event in Spring 2022.

Winners and runners up will participate in a week-long series of virtual events designed to share knowledge and experience in advancing productive and sustainable coastal fisheries. They will also receive dissemination support from the World Bank and acceleration services to improve and implement their solutions from competition partners.

Coastal Fisheries Initiative - Challenge Fund Global Knowledge Competition

TL Bureau, Washington

The World Bank Coastal Fisheries Initiative – Challenge Fund (CFICF) is launching a competition to seek collaborative solutions to reduce overfishing by supporting coordination among fishers and collaboration across seafood value chains. The competition seeks innovative solutions that promote the productive and sustainable use and management of coastal fish stocks in Cabo Verde, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Peru. Both new and established coalitions of fishing and coastal communities, businesses, and/

8

FEATURE

Mosquitoes Defeated in Cuba Trial with Nuclear Technique

By Michael Amdi Madsen

In Cuba, like in most tropical countries, dengue is a growing problem. Transmitted by mosquitoes, this viral infection causes high fever, muscle and joint pains, skin rashes, and, in the most severe cases, death. Globally, the number of dengue cases reported to the World Health Organization has increased eight-fold over the last two decades. The Cuban government is therefore aiming to tackle the spread of dengue by piloting a nuclear technique which can decrease mosquito populations.

The technique in question is the sterile insect technique (SIT): an approach to insect population control relying on the release of sterilised male mosquitos. Supported through the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme and in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a pilot trial of a SIT campaign in a Havana neighbourhood has reduced mosquito (Aedes aegypti) numbers by up to 90 percent last year and early reports indicate that cases of mosquito-borne diseases were completely eliminated in the last two months of the trial.

“In Cuba, controlling Aedes aegypti is a national priority,” said René Gato Armas, an entomologist and head of the SIT group at Cuba’s Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute. “After a major dengue epidemic in 1981, the government deployed an intensive national programme based on conventional methods which almost eradicated the mosquito in the late 1980s.

Since then, however, epidemic outbreaks from imported cases have been frequent. Currently, dengue is considered an endemic disease in Cuba.”

The SIT is among the most environment-friendly insect pest control methods ever developed. Irradiation, such as with gamma rays and X-rays, is used to sterilize mass-reared insects so that, while they remain sexually competitive, they cannot produce offspring.

For the last five years Gato Armas has been working closely with experts at the IAEA and the FAO to collect baseline data and develop the

Schools have been at the centre of the SIT pilot, distributing information and biweekly releasing sterilized male mosquitoes. (Photo: Manuel Fernández, Cuban Agency of Nuclear Energy) pilot SIT trial as an alternative to mosquito control efforts that are declining in their efficacy and are damaging to the environment.

“Dissatisfaction with other mosquito population control techniques, such as sanitary inspection, larvae control and insecticides, has drawn the government to the SIT and lets sterilised mosquitoes do most of the work,” said Gato Armas. He said that the indiscriminate use of insecticides has also triggered resistance to insecticides in Aedes aegypti, and the pilot SIT trial is the start to a more effective and environmentalfriendly mosquito control programme.

Conducted between April and August 2020, the pilot trial covered an area of 50 hectares in an isolated neighbourhood of southwest Havana, El Cano, which was selected as SIT intervention site. Arroyo Arenas, another neighbourhood of similar size, was used as an untreated control site.

Community for mosquito control Community acceptance is essential for the success of vector control methods, including SIT. A communication campaign about the pilot trial was supported by family doctors and community leaders, who highlighted that the release of sterile male mosquitoes was safe as male mosquitos do not carry dengue, bite, nor feed on blood, said Gato Armas.

The support from the IAEA and

Females of the mosquito species Aedes aegypti are carriers of dengue. Sterile insect technique campaigns, like that being carried out in Havana, Cuba, rely on sterilizing males that attempt to breed with and neutralize the reproductive potential of wild females. (Photo: R. Gato Armas/Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute) the FAO has been critical to the SIT trials. “While staff and space for breeding mosquitoes was provided by the Cuban government, SIT requires specialised equipment and expertise, and this is where the IAEA could help,” said Raquel Scamilla Andreo Aledo, the IAEA’s Programme Management Officer for Cuba.

The IAEA supported Cuba in attaining equipment to separate male and female mosquitoes ahead of irradiation and release and helped equip mosquito rearing facilities. Prior to the trial, Cuba had little capacity in insect rearing and the IAEA supported Cuban fellows to be sent for training on the technique in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and at the IAEA

laboratories in Austria.

“National institutions can now effectively implement the SIT and will soon be able to support other countries in this technique,” said Scamilla Aledo.

Challenging but effective Implementing a SIT programme relies on specialised tools and knowledge, said Rui Cardoso Pereira, Head of the Insect Pest Control Section at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques for Food and Agriculture.

“Using the SIT for mosquitoes is relatively new anywhere in the world, and pilot trials like this one show how promising they can be. For Cuba’s pilot trial, almost 1.3 million sterile male mosquitoes were released

Using the SIT for mosquitoes is relatively new anywhere in the world, and pilot trials like this one show how promising they can be.

For Cuba’s pilot trial, almost 1.3 million sterile male mosquitoes were released in 21 weeks, and the goal in the near future is to scale up the trial with a larger area and consequently many more sterile mosquitoes.

Rui Cardoso Pereira, Head of the Insect Pest Control Section at the Joint FAO/ IAEA Centre in 21 weeks, and the goal in the near future is to scale up the trial with a larger area and consequently many more sterile mosquitoes,” said Cardoso Pereira, who is working with Gato Armas and others in Cuba to build expertise and scale-up the project.

Gato Armas said that it was possible that by the end of 2022 the project study area will increase, but it will require upgrades to equipment, including an automated ‘sexsorter’, to reduce time intensive labour and bring down costs.

“The IAEA and FAO will continue to offer its support to Cuba and other countries in the region pursuing pest control using the SIT,” Cardoso Pereira said.

9 Luxurious Turnkey Villa on Exclusive Paradise Island, Bahamas to Auction No Reserve via Concierge Auctions TL Bureau, New York EINPresswire.com/ -- Minutes from the Atlantis Resort and gorgeous Nassau, Paradise West Beach Villa #3 will auction next month via Concierge Auctions in cooperation with Adam Duncombe of ERA Dupuch Real Estate. Currently listed for $12.25 million, the property will sell with No Reserve to the highest bidder regardless of the price. Bidding is scheduled to be held on February 22–28 via Concierge Auctions’ online marketplace, ConciergeAuctions. com, allowing buyers to bid digitally from anywhere in the world.

“After watching several successful auctions in the Bahamas, I am so looking forward to collaborating with the Concierge Auctions’ team.

From my local expertise and connections in the Bahamas, to the Concierge Auctions’ awardwinning marketing and their dedicated sales support, I know we will put together a competitive selection of bidders for this oneof-a-kind luxurious estate,” stated listing agent, Adam Duncombe.

Tucked within a private enclave on one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive islands is this luxurious villa. Mere minutes from the Atlantis Resort and Casino, the villa sits in a beachfront oasis with privacy at every turn. White sand and a harborside dock equipped to accommodate boats up to 150 feet make oceanfront living as convenient as it is breathtaking.

The villa’s design is ideal for entertaining, with a kitchen that will thrill any chef and an open concept living and dining space to gather in. Make the most of the Caribbean with outdoor entertaining spaces, perfect for cocktails or alfresco dinners. Enjoy windows stretching from floor to cathedral ceilings and impeccable furnishings throughout the indoors. A separate private ocean-facing balcony awaits in both the primary and first guest suites, while the southern two suites share a sprawling covered patio.

Paradise West Beach Villa #3 shares renowned Paradise Island with prestigious neighbors, including the Atlantis Resort and Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina. Though the enclave in which the villa sits grants an atmosphere of peace and privacy, all the amenities of Nassau are minutes from the front door.

Gorgeous as the Bahamas are, Paradise Island is a haven beyond compare. With balmy weather to be expected year-round, the Island is bursting with spots to swim, sunbathe, fish, dive, boat, and explore. Enjoy watersports or spend leisurely days on flawless white sand beaches.

As part of Concierge Auctions’ Key for Key® giving program in partnership with Giveback Homes, the closing will result in a new home built for a family in need.

life and real estate

COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose

TL Bureau, Geneva

On 15 January 2021, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX. Together with our partners, COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date.

But the work that has gone into this milestone is only a reminder of the

Concierge Auctions offers a commission to the buyers’ representing real estate agents.

See Auction Terms and Conditions for full details. For more information, including property details, exclusive virtual tour, diligence documents, and more, visit ConciergeAuctions.com or call +1.212.202.2940.

About Concierge Auctions Concierge Auctions is the world’s largest luxury real estate auction marketplace, with a state-of-theart digital marketing, property preview, and bidding platform. The firm matches sellers of one-of-akind homes with some of the most capable property connoisseurs on the planet. Sellers gain unmatched reach, speed, and certainty. Buyers receive curated opportunities.

Agents earn their commission in 30 days. In November 2021, Concierge Auctions was acquired

by Sotheby’s, the world’s premier destination for fine art and luxury goods, and Realogy Holdings Corp., the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, holding a joint 80 percent ownership stake. Concierge Auctions continues to operate independently, partnering with real estate agents affiliated with many of the industry’s leading brokerages to host luxury auctions for clients.

Since Concierge Auctions’ inception in 2008, it has generated billions of dollars in sales, broken world records for the highest-priced homes ever sold at auction and conducted auctions in 46 U.S. states and 30 countries. The firm owns one of the most comprehensive and intelligent databases of highnet-worth real estate buyers and sellers in the industry, and it has committed to build more than 300 homes through its Key For Key® giving program in partnership with Giveback Homes™, which guarantees that for every property the company sells, a new home is funded for a family in need.

For more information, visit ConciergeAuctions.com.

work that remains. As of 13 January 2022, out of 194 Member States, 36 WHO Member States have vaccinated less than 10% of their population, and 88 less than 40%. COVAX’s ambition was compromised by hoarding/stockpiling in rich countries, catastrophic outbreaks leading to borders and supply being locked. And a lack of sharing of licenses, technology and know how by pharmaceutical companies meant manufacturing capacity went

unused. COVAX is working with governments, manufacturers and partners to ensure that when countries receive vaccines they can get them to people quickly.

With updated vaccines in the pipeline, now is the moment for all citizens to demand that governments & pharmaceutical companies share health tools globally & bring an end to the death & destruction cycles of this pandemic, limit new variants and drive a global economic recovery.

Top Product Innovations appoints Marcus Hamaker as Chief Operations Officer TL Bureau, Charlotte TPI, producer of the best-inclass Phenomenal Aire™ IAQ product line, names Marcus Hamaker as COO to drive growth across commercial and residential markets Importantly, as a family business we have a strong ethos when it comes to building trust with our partners and customers.

Marcus embodies this ethos and will be pivotal in scaling the business.”

TPI, an IAQ provider rapidly establishing itself as a market leader across North America, and with strong international expansion ambitions, has appointed Marcus Hamaker as the company’s Chief Operations Officer. His appointment became effective Dec 1st, 2021.

An industry veteran, Marcus’s career spans over 25 years and has involved a range of executive leadership and strategic consulting roles.

feature rich and reliable product line with strong loyalty across our partners and customers.

As TPI experiences ongoing growth and success, my role is to ensure that the business, behind the product, scales both effectively and efficiently.

When it comes down to it, it’s the people that make the difference. ” Commenting on the Marcus Hamaker joins appointment Alan Rosenberg, Top Product Innovations CEO at TPI, said “With his extensive experience With his proven capability to leading multi-disciplinary drive operational excellence, teams in the US, Marcus is Marcus’s leadership the ideal candidate to join responsibilities at TPI will our executive team. I know encompass strategic planning, that Marcus’s track record, market development, sales, expertise and passion for service and marketing customer service excellence functions.With TPI continuing will drive sustainable growth to more than double its year-on- at this exciting time in TPI’s year revenues within the North journey. Importantly, as a American marketplace and on family business we have a the verge of major international strong ethos when it comes expansion, Marcus has joined to building trust with our the company at a critical period partners and customers. Marcus in its development. As Marcus embodies this ethos and will be states “Phenomenal Aire™ has pivotal in scaling the business already established itself as a in the right way.”

Connection of Food

By Muskan Sachdeva Chandigarh

The connection of food and anyone is most probably is quite great like glorious and warm. It begins on the day a baby is born or even before that in mothers womb and it ends on the day that person dies.

So, it’s quite acceptable that by any means human being and food cannot be detached. When it comes to emotional connection and love, first feed we got from a mother and she not only provides us food or make us survive in this world but also there is a essence of million of sacrifices she commits in order to

make a baby come into life . The million of pains she gone through like everytime she was making an effort just so, that the new being coming into life comes blissfully and enjoy this beautiful place called earth. So every droplet of milk anyone who drunked when one born signifies anyone’s existence till now. So, the first ever encounter of food for any human being is through mother. The second or better connection of food with anybody is that when we start to differentiate between food and its taste using many of our senses we see food through our eyes, feel it through our hands, smeel it through the

nose, listen to the sound of food while it cooks through our ears and at the end taste it through our tongue. its quite magical that how a single thing called food can evoke million of sensations. We can distinguish about everything the colour taste smell and all the ingredients of any food that we eat . It’s just been found each and everything about food so magical and fascinating that any person can ask me to stop cooking and anybody can take all the ingredients from me but the passion of food, the love, the emotions,i have for food sorry, but noboy can take it from me that’s the biggest power i have.

10

SPORTS

NFL Announces Nominees for 2021 Pepsi® Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year

TL Bureau, California

PLAYER

​ inner Selected by Fan Vote on W NFL.com/voting/rookies/rookieof-the-year The National Football League today announced the six finalists for the 2021 PEPSI ZERO SUGAR NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award.

2021 PEPSI ZERO SUGAR NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS Through the end of the voting period on January 31, fans will also be able to vote directly on Twitter. To cast such a vote, fans should tweet the first and last name of the player or the player’s official Twitter handle.

Both of these methods must include the hashtag: #PepsiROY. Voting via Twitter is in addition to the online ballot at NFL.com/voting/ rookies/rookie-of-the-year, which will be available throughout the entire voting period.

The 2021 PEPSI ZERO SUGAR NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award winner will be recognized in Los Angeles and presented with a specially designed, Pepsi Zero Sugar-themed trophy during Super Bowl LVI festivities.

The six finalists were selected for their outstanding performances through the 2021 NFL season.

Each week, six nominees were chosen for the Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Week and fans

Ja’Marr Chase Wide Receiver

Cincinnati Bengals

Najee Harris

Running Back

Pittsburgh Steelers

Mac Jones

Quarterback

New England Patriots

Micah Parsons

Linebacker

Dallas Cowboys

Kyle Pitts

Tight End

Atlanta Falcons

Jaylen Waddle

Wide Receiver

Miami Dolphins

POSITION

voted for the winner on NFL.com.

Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

A closer look at the finalists: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase led all rookies and ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,455 receiving yards, the most by a rookie in the Super Bowl era, while his 13 touchdown receptions were the third-most in the league this season. In Week 17, he recorded 266 receiving yards, the most ever by a rookie in a single game. He also recorded 201 receiving yards in Week 7 and became the first rookie ever and the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to record multiple games with at least 200 receiving yards in a single season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers CALVIN JOHNSON (2011 & 2012) and DON MAYNARD (1968) as well as JOSH GORDON(2013) and ALSHON JEFFERY (2013).

Chase became the fifth rookie in the Super Bowl era with at least 1,000

TEAM

receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (1998), ODELL BECKHAM JR. (2014), MIKE EVANS (2014) and JOHN JEFFERSON (1978).

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris led all rookies and ranked fourth in the league with 1,667 scrimmage yards (1,200 rushing, 467 receiving), the mostever by a Steelers rookie, and ranked second among rookies with 10 total touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving). He led all NFL running backs with 74 receptions and in Week 3, totaled 14 receptions to tie SAQUON BARKLEY (September 16, 2018) and ROY HELU (November 6, 2011) for the most by a rookie running back in a single game all-time.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones led all qualified rookies with a 67.6 completion percentage, 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes and a 92.5 rating this season.

He completed at least 70 percent of his pass attempts in nine games to tie DAK PRESCOTT (2016) for the most-ever by rookie. In Week 10, Jones recorded a 142.1 passer rating, the fifth-highest single-game passer rating by a rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era (minimum 20 attempts). In 2021, he became the third rookie quarterback all-time to win each of his first six road starts, joining Prescott (2016) and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (2004).

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons led all rookies with 13 sacks in 2021, the third-most by a rookie since the individual sack became an official statistic in 1982, and tied for the NFL-lead with 21 tackles for loss. From Week 9 to 14, he registered a sack in six consecutive games and became the third rookie to record a sack in sixor-more consecutive games since 1982, joining JEVON KEARSE (eight consecutive games in 1999) and MIKE CROEL (six in 1991).

He finished the season with three forced fumbles and became the first rookie since DWIGHT FREENEY (13 sacks, nine forced fumbles) in 2002 with at least 13 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts totaled 1,026 receiving yards this season and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (1,076 receiving yards in 1961) as the only

rookie tight ends in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He registered 68 receptions and became the third rookie tight end all-time with at least 65 receptions, joining KEITH JACKSON (81 receptions in 1988) and JEREMY SHOCKEY (74 in 2002). Pitts, who recorded 119 receiving yards in Week 5, 163 receiving yards in Week 7 and 102 receiving yards in Week 16, became the third rookie tight end in league history with 100 receiving yards in at least three games, joining Ditka (five games in 1961) and CHARLE YOUNG (four games in 1973).

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led all rookies with 104 receptions this season, surpassing ANQUAN BOLDIN (101 receptions in 2003) for the most receptions by a rookie alltime. He recorded seven games with at least eight receptions, the most such games by a rookie in NFL history, and his 10 games with at least five catches were the most among rookies this season. Waddle totaled 1,015 receiving yards and was one of three rookies, along with Chase and Pitts, to reach the 1,000-yard mark in 2021.

This is Pepsi’s 21st year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 20th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.

GMT) on Friday, February 11 and that between Zamalek and Burgos will tip off at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on the same day.

The winners will face off in the Final at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday, February 13, with the 3rd-Place Game taking place at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT).

The ambassador of the 2022 event, Egyptian soccer legend and former

Zamalek player Mido, accepted the task of conducting the draw at the Giza Plateau and took the opportunity to profess his love of basketball. The distinguished panel at the ceremony included Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy, FIBA Africa Zone 5 president Hesham El-Hariri, Egyptian Basketball federation president Magdy Abou Frekha and BCL CEO Patrick Comninos.

FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2022 pairings drawn in Egypt TL Bureau, CAIRO The official draw of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2022 concluded on Saturday, unveiling the path to the trophy for each of the four contenders at the big event that is set to take place in Cairo, Egypt from February 1113, 2022.

The spectacular Giza Plateau provided the backdrop for the draw ceremony of this milestone edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, as it is the first time in history that an African country plays host to the competition.

The first Semi-Final, that will raise the curtain on the tournament at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in the Egyptian capital, will feature a clash between the two representatives of the Americas as Basketball Champions League Americas 2020-21 champions Flamengo will face NBA G League 2020-21 winners Lakeland Magic.

In the second Semi-Final, hosts Zamalek SC of Cairo, the champions of the inaugural Basketball Africa League campaign, will take on Basketball Champions League 2020-21 winners Hereda San

Pablo Burgos, who are also the current FIBA Intercontinental Cup title holders.

The Semi-Final between Flamengo and Lakeland Magic is set to take place at 17:00local time (15:00

11

tech/auto

Introducing TrashPiles – The World’s Most Environmentally-Friendly NFT Project

TrashPiles is on the environmentally conscious blockchain, Solana.

TL Bureau, California

A brand-new NFT has hit the market and it’s the most innovative and environmentallyfriendly to date – TrashPiles.

TrashPiles is a charity NFT project with an aim to support environmental sustainability efforts. The project plans to donate $100,000 to the TeamSeas ocean-cleanup organization initially, with recurring donations set after from a 5% transaction fee on the secondary marketplace. The initial donation will remove 100,000 pounds of trash and waste from beaches and waterways around the world.

While this in of itself is a positive and socially responsible mission, the team at TrashPiles decided donations are simply not enough to support such an important cause. Developers have gone one step further by deciding to host the NFT project on the Solana blockchain, which is not only beneficial to users’ wallets, but is also the most environmentally conscious

blockchain on the market.

Solana uses only 1/400,000 the amount of energy per transaction as its competition, Ethereum, which consumes the same amount of energy per transaction as burning five gallons of gasoline.

“Our project is unique in that we will have the largest positive environmental impact out of all NFT projects that have come before us,” says one of TrashPiles’ co-founders, Jake.

“What many people don’t realize is that Ethereum’s vast

Artes Electronics has started testing the alphaversion of the “Melanoma Warrior chat” App The application is a logical continuation of the online version of the chat

TL Bureau, Miami, Florida Artes Electronics has started testing the alpha-version of the “Melanoma Warrior chat” App. The application will combine all the possibilities of online-chat, but it will be much more convenient, since access to operators - warriors with melanoma will be as simple as writing a message in a messenger. After testing the alpha version, the beta version of the Melanoma Warrior chat application can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play The idea of creating such an application appeared after communicating with users of another product of Artes Electronics - the NOTA mole tracker, which helps to detect dangerous changes in a mole in just 20 seconds. These people are survivors who have won or are in treatment for melanoma.

90% of skin cancer survivors (based on an independent survey) said that they lacked support from “equal” people, that is, patients with the same diagnosis. Especially in the first few days. According to them, at the moment of acceptance and awareness of the diagnosis,

Early diagnosis of skin cancer at the price of a smart watch all people need is just to talk to someone from the warrior community to calm down and continue the treatment of skin cancer with new energy.

During the fight against cancer, it is very important to create a support system and avoid social isolation. Those people who have already encountered melanoma can share their experience, help a person understand that he is not alone against a serious disease, and he has someone to turn to for advice or just a kind word.

At the moment, an online-chat is in an active state, where 9 warriors from all over the world connected to it can maintain a conversation in 7 languages.

About NOTA mole tracker.

Developed by a group of engineers and medical professionals, this device can detect the pathology of a mole in 20 seconds. In fact, its technology works by comparing the signal from a healthy patch of skin with that of suspected melanoma. Just scan the mole and let the neural network examine the data. As a very compact device, it’s great for use at home or elsewhere.

Furthermore, the connected app allows to map the moles and keep track of them. Finally, the brand supports early diagnosis and traditional health care, sending a person to the doctor at the right time.

energy consumption has yielded a wildly high amount of carbon dioxide production. From one Ethereum transaction, 97 lbs (44 kg) of CO2 is released into the atmosphere! To put that into perspective, it takes one mature, adult tree one full year to absorb 44 lbs of CO2. This means that NFT projects on Ethereum blockchain, like CryptoPunks and BoredApeYachtClub, have thousands of transactions under their belt and have put out millions of pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. This is completely unacceptable and needs to change.”

In 2021, Solana announced that their blockchain became carbon neutral, so any transactions involving the TrashPiles project already result in a net neutral impact on the environment. “We couldn’t be more pleased with our collaboration with such a wonderful blockchain partner.”

-Jake To help ensure the longevity of the TrashPiles project, the platform will have a 5% fee on every aftermarket transaction

that will go directly to charity in order to keep the donations steadily flowing. There is also a 2.5% transaction fee for future development surrounding TrashPiles to keep the utilities of its NFTs unique and strong and to continue to drive the project to new heights. “From now all the way to the original mint and beyond, we will ensure the price of our NFTs remain steady and growing, as we continue to bring more and innovative utilities to each TrashPile.” - Jake For more information about TrashPiles, please visit https:// trashpiles.io/ or on Discord.

About TrashPiles Developed in 2021, TrashPiles was co-founded by Jake and Christian, outdoor and environmental enthusiasts and crypto/NFT investors. Since September of the same year, the duo has been working tirelessly to see their dream become a reality, finalizing artwork, web development, Discord management, the project’s roadmap, and the development of their NFT’s utilities.

Oscar Winner To Launch First Kids TV Show... That Pays Cacti Passively TL Bureau, Vancouver The cutest metaverse in the universe is about to launch! What have adorable cacti, 3D models and NFTs got in common? Well, they’re all about to be part of the first-ever NFT TV show and so are hundreds of collectors, fans and curious non-cacti. The world of NFT (non-fungible tokens) has been growing and getting more and more creative, with artists, musicians and developers pushing the technology into unchartered territory. Now a pair of Oscar and Golden Globe winning VFX artists have created a visually stunning, irresistible and environmentally conscious way to get involved with the launch of Cactus World.

Cactus World will offer the opportunity to be part of a kid friendly TV show with your own, unique cactus character.

Collectors will be able to buy a Cactus Seed NFT, which makes them a Founder of Cactus World, benefitting from exclusive rewards, intellectual property revenue sharing and access to the Cactus World community through the exclusive Discordchannels.

They also get a rare Cactus World collectable 2D NFT, and a matching 3D model that can be used in the metaverse and featured in the show. As the world

and community grows the super cute cactus NFTs will find their place within a new TV show, game, metaverse and currency.

Cactus World was built by two passionate VFX artists, who have worked for many years on TV, Movies, Cinematics and Feature Animation. Past work includes: Walking with Dinosaurs, Black Panther, Thor Ragnarock, World of Warcraft, Aquaman, Smallfoot, Spiderman Into Spiderverse, Godzilla II, Over the Moon. Based on their previous experience Leo Krajden and Abel Vargas would like to apply their knowledge to expand this world and create something unique, immersive and community-driven.

This is a NFT project with a cause - 1% of all transactions will be distributed to charity by The Cactus Foundation Fund.

12 S.Korea Records 3,097 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Seoul

South Korea recorded 4,813 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

In a statement, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said today that the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 692,174

Mexico Records 227 COVID-19 Deaths TL Bureau, Mexico City

Mexico recorded 227 coronavirus deaths, according to health ministry data, bringing the overall death toll to 301,334, Reuters reported.

world

Foreign Minister Kofod visits contact line in eastern Ukraine

TL Bureau, Copenhagen

The situation in eastern Ukraine is deeply concerning. Russia has deployed up to 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, and the tensions could have serious consequences for security in both Ukraine and the rest of Europe.

Today, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod visited the Ukrainian contact line to emphasize Denmark’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Minister Kofod met the Ukrainian generals who lead the military operations in eastern Ukraine and talked to some of the soldiers who are trying to protect Ukraine’s border.

Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod states: “Russia’s threats and aggressive

behavior towards Ukraine is completely unacceptable. It is entirely up to the Ukrainian people to determine the future of their country. That is why it is so important that we stand with Ukraine. And insist on Ukraine’s right to be a free and independent country within their own borders.

That is not for Russia or anyone else to decide. That is the reason I am in Ukraine today. To stand with Ukraine in solidarity, listen to the Ukrainian concerns and hopes for the future, and to provide concrete Danish support for the important efforts to deescalate the situation in Eastern Ukraine. Europe is not safe, until Ukraine is safe.”

Minister Kofod’s visit comes after a week of meetings, including in the NATO-Russia Council and the

Denmark announces comprehensive support program to Ukraine TL Bureau, Copenhagen The Danish Government has decided to allocate EUR 22 million to a comprehensive new support program to Ukraine. The program aims to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and ability to manage the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod states: “Ukraine is currently threatened by the massive and completely unacceptable Russian military build-up close to the Ukrainian border.

I have just visited the contact line and seen with my own eyes how severely this conflict has affected the Ukrainian people. The Danish government will not stand idly by. Our new support package is quite comprehensive, and every bit of it is needed.

With this support, we are sending a clear signal of our solidarity with

Ukraine. The Ukrainian people must know that they are not alone in their fight for sovereignty and independence.” The new support is presented on the same day that Minister Kofod visits the contact line in eastern Ukraine.

The support constitutes a new phase of the Danish Peace and Stabilization Program for Ukraine for the period 2022-25.

Of the EUR 22 million, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributes EUR 10.75 million and the Danish Ministry of Defense EUR 11.3 million.

Minister of Defense Trine Bramsen states: “We are seeing an aggressive military buildup on the Ukrainian border, confirmed during my recent visit to the country. We must support Ukraine and its right to be a democratic country in its own right. That is why we are now strengthening our Danish contribution to Ukraine’s reforms of its security forces. We are also increasing our contribution

to Ukraine’s military training and our assistance in bringing Ukrainian military personnel in line with NATO standards. I will not leave out further contributions.”

The program covers both stabilization, development and defense-oriented assistance. The program for one thing aims to strengthen the security and cohesion of Ukraine’s eastern regions. It will also support Ukraine’s defense reform and capacity building of the Ukrainian defense. In addition, the program seeks to improve dialogue between people on both sides of the contact line in order to promote conflict resolution and local reconciliation.The program is funded by the Danish Peace and Stabilization Fund, which supports stabilization efforts in vulnerable and conflict-affected areas.

A previous phase of the Danish support for Ukraine ran from 2018 to 2021 with a budget of EUR 16.1 million.

OSCE, where possible diplomatic tracks that could deescalate the situation have been explored.

Denmark is open for a constructive dialogue with Russia. At the same time, Denmark has made it clear that the military pressure on Ukraine is completely unacceptable, and that it does not want to compromise on the fundamental principles of the European security order.

New Danish support for demining efforts in eastern Ukraine Minister Kofod’s trip included a visit to the Danish Refugee Council, which is carrying out a number of demining projects in eastern Ukraine. Here, the minister announced that the Danish government has decided on a new contribution of DKK 4 million to stabilization efforts, including

demining at the Ukrainian contact line.

“Many years of conflict in eastern Ukraine have left a large number of unexploded mines. This causes major problems for the locals. Both because it is life threatening to move around in several places, but also economically because the mines are dug into agricultural land.

Therefore, demining efforts are of critical importance, and I am glad we can help the Ukrainians get rid of these hidden death traps in the ground”, says Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod.

Among other things, the Danish funds will go to education activities of local citizens so they can clear the mines in a responsible manner.

The support will be administered by the Danish Refugee Council.

Ministry of Health Starts Second Phase of Coronavirus Vaccination for Children Aged 5-11 TL Bureau, Riyadh The Ministry of Health (MoH) has provided the first dose of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for children aged 5-11, adding that booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment is through Tawakkalna and Sehaty apps.

The ministry completed the first phase of coronavirus vaccination for children aged 5-11, which was allocated to the higher-risk groups of children. MoH started on 13 January, 2022, the second phase of coronavirus vaccination for children, according to priority groups

UAE Announces 3,067 New COVID-19 Cases, 3 deaths in Last 24 Hours

TL Bureau, Abu Dhabi

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it conducted 385,950 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using stateof-the-art medical testing equipment, according to WAM News Agency.

In a statement, the ministry announced 3,067 new

coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases to 805,248.

The ministry also announced three deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 2,191.

MoHAP noted that an additional 1,055 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the UAE to 760,268.

Russia Confirms 29,230 New Cases of COVID-19

TL Bureau, Moscow

Russia has confirmed 29,230 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which brings the cumulative total to 10,803,534.

In a statement issued today,

the Russian health authorities said that 686 coronavirus patients have died in Russia in the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s cumulative coronavirus death toll to 321,320 and the total of recoveries to 9,858,615.

Records 119 New COVID-19 Cases

TL Bureau, Beijing

China reported 119 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

China’s National Health Commission stated that the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 104,864.