text:
EMERGENCY is the independent and neutral Italian association that provides free, high-quality medical and surgical care to victims of war.
Nel 2018 ha deciso di pubblicare il suo primo report di sostenibilità attraverso un sito che ha realizzato con noi. Tra le richieste: ottima architettura dei contenuti, interfaccia utente chiara e usabile, aspetto coinvolgente e bello. E aderenza alle linee guida GRI, il primo standard globale per i report di sostenibilità.
We designed a bilingual site, with a CMS for content management, pages enriched with infographics and HTML5 and animated data representations. Entirely made by us also the video presentation of the report, coordinated with the site, in which the President of EMERGENCY explains the project and narrates its contents.
How to create awareness, interest and funding for a service that does not exist? That was the challenge given to Creative Room by this innovative Swiss-based startup in preparing for the international ICO launch of Barter Plaza in May 2019. For this project, we designed and published all communication materials from the all-important White Paper to the mobile-usable website and the product launch video that had the daunting task of condensing three business models and the investment offer into a 2-minute launch format.
The first year of collaboration with Edenred has come to an end: the balance was more than positive on both sides, given the renewal of the contract for the whole of 2019. Therefore, we continue to follow the offline B2B and BTC projects dedicated to companies, intermediaries (e.g., restaurateurs) and end customers, on all their business areas: employee benefits (including TicketRestaurant), corporate fleet and expense report management solutions, incentive solutions, Public Social programs and the new large area dedicated to Welfare.
Ode produces solenoid valves for various industrial sectors, from medical to petrochemical. A history that began in 1960 is clearly visible in its logo, which has been deliberately kept unchanged even during the restyling of the company's corporate image.To give a common identity to the different materials, we worked on shapes, colors and images.The square of the logo has become one of the main graphic elements. The colors chosen all belong to Ode's color palette, and they each identify a different brochure. The cover images, veered to the main color, are all evocative, not recalling the product but abstract subjects, referable to the world of technology.

domain: design


text:
Weekend protests forced officials in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo to suspend a planned $8.9 billion petrochemical facility expansion. Here, riot police urged protesters to leave the area outside Ningbo's government office Sunday.
Ningbo officials said late Sunday that plans to expand a refining and petrochemicals facility run by a unit of state-controlled oil-and-natural gas giant China Petrochemical Corp., known as Sinopec Group, would be suspended pending further review.
Police detain a woman during the protest. The government said it would also scrap a portion of the facility designed to produce the industrial chemical paraxylene, which local residents feared could be damaging to their health and the environment.
The protests are the latest case of heightened environmental awareness in China colliding with local government bids to shore up economic growth.
The protests also highlight local officials' desire to avoid social unrest at a period of particular political sensitivity in China. Here, a protest leader talked to residents as they marched in Ningbo on Sunday.
A once-a-decade leadership change is set to begin Nov. 8, and security officials have called on local leaders in recent weeks to do everything possible to avoid disturbances ahead of the transition.
The fear now for Beijing and local governments across China is potential for similar disturbances as part of China's burgeoning 'not in my backyard' movement. Here, a protester held up a banner reading 'Love Zhenghai, Love Ningbo, Reject PX.' Zhenhai is the name of the city district where the petrochemicals facility is located.
Protests of the facility appeared to intensify Saturday and Sunday. Demonstrators gathered outside the gates to the city's municipal government and marched through the city's streets.
Protesters in particular appear to be targeting the refinery's production of the industrial chemicals ethylene and paraxylene. Known as PX, paraxylene is a chemical used in the production of plastics and other goods.
High levels of PX exposure can irritate the eyes and cause vomiting and respiratory discomfort, according to U.S. government and industry reports. Here, a protester waved the Chinese national flag outside the government office Sunday.
A government official tried to calm protesters Sunday. Environmental protests are potentially less volatile than other forms of unrest in China, in part because residents' concerns are locally focused. Recent cases have shown that when local leaders are willing to make concessions, social order is quickly restored.
Police officers stood guard while people gathered to protest Saturday.
Police officers carried a demonstrator away Saturday.
A police officer argued with a protester Saturday.

domain: news


Follow the latest updates below.
Here's a recap of today's top news:
- A Level results day saw record high grades - with almost half awarded being As or A*s
- Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, defended grade inflation and said students "deserve" top grades
- Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, confirmed that Covid booster jabs will be administered from next month
- Three in four UK adults have received both doses of a Covid vaccine, a milestone Mr Javid labelled "incredible"
- Experts spoke to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, with Professor Sir Andrew Pollard saying that herd immunity is "not a possibility" with the current Delta variant
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned in light of a report conducted by the New York Attorney General's office that found he had sexually harassed 11 women, including state employees
Unions criticise Education Secretary over 'full fees' comments
Gavin Williamson is facing criticism from teaching unions after he suggested universities should not be charging full tuition fees if they are not "delivering what students expect" in terms of in-person teaching.
Speaking to Sky News on A Level results day, the Education Secretary said the Government expects all universities to be moving back to delivering face-to-face teaching, including lectures, unless there are "unprecedented reasons".
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said: "Gavin Williamson is the person most responsible for the disruption and dissatisfaction experienced by students during the pandemic and university staff picked up the pieces of his disastrous mismanagement.
"Williamson should reflect on his own failings before denigrating the excellent online provision staff have provided."
Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "Universities are planning to deliver the vast majority of their teaching and learning face-to-face - with most seminars, group study, practical work, extra-curricular activities, social events and sports taking place in-person.
"Universities are following the latest Government guidance. Where lectures are being taught online, there will be clear benefits for students' learning or specific health and safety considerations."
Sajid Javid confirms Covid booster jabs set to be given from next month
Sajid Javid has confirmed that preparations are being made to offer Covid booster jabs from next month.
The Health Secretary said that the Government is waiting for the final advice from the JCVI but expects to begin the booster programme from early September, with the over-50s set to be offered the flu jab at the same time as their booster.
Mr Javid said: "It's really important that when we start that programme, the sort of first cohorts, the ones that got the jabs early on when we started our programme - the first in the world back in December last year - that those cohorts come first and so we will be prioritising it.
"This wall of defence that the vaccines have created is working. It's massively reduced hospitalisations, deaths from Covid are mercifully low and that's because of our vaccination programme."
Hundreds may be dying from heart problems at home as NHS backlog continues
Hundreds of people may be dying from heart problems at home each week, figures suggest, amid fears that many are continuing to suffer from the NHS backlog caused by the pandemic response.
The latest death data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that, for the week ending July 30 in England, there were 1,029 more deaths than normal but only 389 of those were from Covid.
The figures also show there were 748 excess deaths in private homes during the same period – a 33.4 per cent increase on the five-year average. It suggests the majority of excess deaths are now happening at home rather than in hospitals or care homes.
Although the ONS does not release details of the cause of death, the latest data from Public Health England show weekly heart deaths are well in excess of usual levels, with more than 500 extra deaths registered from heart failure, heart disease or circulatory disease for the week ending July 23.
- Read the full story here
Thai police clash with protesters angry at pandemic response
Thai police clashed for the second time in four days on Tuesday with protesters angry at the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of progress in political reform.
Swarms of police, backed by trucks spraying jets from water cannons, fired tear gas and rubber bullets at scores of demonstrators in Bangkok. Protesters threw rocks and fireworks and set fire to a traffic police booth.
The protest began as a 'car mob', with demonstrators driving to different points in the city to get around restrictions on public gatherings and to minimise the spread of coronavirus. However, some later broke away, leading to the confrontation with police.
The protesters blame the government for being unable to control a spike in Covid cases, partly because of the low rate of vaccination, and are also part of a wider push to achieve political change, that includes the resignation of prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a new constitution and fundamental reform of the monarchy.
Nigeria to restart vaccination programme from 16 August
Nigeria will restart its Covid-19 vaccination programme on 16 August after running out of jabs last month.
Of its population of 200 million, the African country has fully-vaccinated only 700,000 people, while two million people have received one dose.
Vaccinations were paused on 9 July after the supply ran-out, but its healthcare agency chief has said four million doses of the Moderna jab have now arrived, from the US, and are being prepared for distribution.
Johnson & Johnson vaccines are also set to arrive in the country soon.
Faisal Shuaib, the executive director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said: "We want to call on all Nigerians to remain assured that the vaccines that we have are safe and will be deployed next week."
UK's age-prioritised vaccine rollout has reduced hospitalisations, modelling suggests
Modelling from a researcher suggests that the UK's age-prioritised approach to delivering Covid-19 vaccines has resulted in reduced hospitalisation risk, while the US's rollout - which had no adult age limit - appears to have been less successful in reducing hospitalisation.
Colin Angus, a research follow at Sheffield University, found by looking at official data from both countries that if everyone in the US caught Covid-19, we would expect 4.4 million hospital admissions (based on current vaccination levels). This would make a reduction of 72.4 per cent from before vaccines.
In comparison, England would see 317,000 admissions - a reduction of 89.5 per cent due to vaccines.
Twitter suspends US representative for saying vaccines are 'failing'
Twitter has suspended Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative for Georgia, for seven days for spreading "misleading information" after she posted that Covid-19 vaccines are "failing".
The politician had asked the Food and Drug Administration to not approve coronavirus vaccines - with the social media site deeming this to be her "fourth strike".
On Monday evening, Ms Greene said on Twitter: "The FDA should not approve the Covid vaccines."
She said there were too many reports of infection and spread among vaccinated people - then added that the vaccines are "failing" and "do not reduce the spread of the virus and neither do masks".
Trenton Kennedy, a Twitter spokesman, said the tweet was "labelled in line with our Covid-19 misleading information policy".
"The account will be in read-only mode for a week due to repeated violations of the Twitter rules."
UK records 23,510 new Covid cases and 146 further deaths
The UK has reported 23,510 new daily cases of Covid-19 and a further 146 deaths within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.
Cases have fallen slightly since yesterday, when 25,161 new cases were reported, while deaths have risen from the 37 reported on Monday.
This marks the highest number of daily reported deaths since March 12, when 175 were reported.
Parachute Regiment veterans reported over anti-vax protest at old BBC site
Two Parachute Regiment veterans have been reported to police for taking part in a violent anti-vaccination protest at the old BBC headquarters, after paratroopers were called on to track them down.
Protesters opposing vaccine passports and child vaccinations attempted to get into the old BBC studios in West London, seemingly unaware the broadcaster had moved production of its main news programme out of the building in 2013.
Images from the protest at the BBC Television Centre, which showed two members of the crowd wearing the distinctive maroon beret of the Parachute Regiment, caused anger among veterans and serving personnel.
Speaking exclusively to the Telegraph, former Parachute Regiment Major Andrew Fox said within thirty minutes of highlighting the incident, the airborne forces community had identified the pair and passed him their details.
- Read the full story here
Some US judges make Covid vaccination a condition of probation
The New York Times reports that in at least two cases in Ohio, and elsewhere in the US, judges are controversially setting vaccination against Covid-19 as a condition for probation.
Judge Christopher A. Wagner of the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton County told a man convicted of drug offences last week that as part of his probation he had to get vaccinated against Covid within two months.
The man told local media:
"I don’t plan on getting it. I don’t want it. So, for him to tell me that I have to get it in order for me to not violate my probation is crazy because I’m just trying to do what I can to get off this as quickly as possible, like finding a job and everything else, but that little thing can set me back.
It’s not like I’m out here getting into any more trouble or anything like that. But because I don’t take a shot, they can send me to jail. I don’t agree with that.”
His attorney, Carl Lewis, said of the judge’s order: “When you hear that, you’re like, ‘Whoa, I don’t think the judges are within their powers to do that.’”
Another Court of Common Pleas judge, Richard A. Frye in Franklin County, gave another man who pleaded guilty to drugs and firearms offences 30 days to get vaccinated in June - as part of a set of conditions that, if breached, could send him to prison for 36 months.
Myanmar army responsible for deaths of 25 medics, rights groups say
At least 252 attacks and threats against healthcare workers have been carried out by Myanmar's army since the February 1 coup, resulting in the death of at least 25 medics and hampering the country's Covid-19 response, a report by rights groups said.
The report, by Insecurity Insight, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), and Johns Hopkins University Centre for Public Health and Human Rights (CPHHR), said more than 190 health workers have been arrested and 86 raids on hospitals carried out since the coup.
They identified 15 incidents in which the response to the pandemic had been obstructed - including confiscation of personal protection equipment and oxygen supplies for the exclusive use of the army.
Germany to end free Covid tests to boost vaccination
The German government will stop offering free Covid-19 tests from October 11, in an attempt to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of the 16 federal states met on Tuesday to discuss measures to avoid a new wave of infections, driven by the Delta variant, and avert unpopular restrictions.
They agreed to end free testing for all except those for whom vaccination is not recommended, such as children and pregnant women, sources close to the government said.
They hope that will encourage more people to get jabbed, as unvaccinated people will then have to pay for the tests they need to be able to enter indoor restaurants, take part in religious ceremonies and do indoor sport.
Football fans face random Covid status spot checks
The Premier League has announced fans are set to be subject to random spot-checks of their Covid-19 status at some grounds in the opening weeks of the 2021-22 season, which will kick off on Friday.
In a statement covering matchday protocols, the Premier League said fans attending games should be prepared to prove they have been fully-vaccinated or have received a negative lateral flow test result in the previous 48 hours, via their NHS Covid pass through the NHS app or website link.
The statement read: "Initially, in the first few matchdays of the season, supporters can expect the introduction of random spot-checks for ticket holders at some grounds as we establish the required processes so clubs and fans are prepared for all match attenders to have their Covid-19 status checked upon arrival, should it become mandatory."
Over 70pc of entries from private schools awarded A* or A grades
Education charity The Sutton Trust has raised concerns that the pandemic has widened the gap between independent and state schools, after analysis by exams regulator Ofqual found that 70.1 per cent of pupils at private schools achieved top grades, compared with 60.8 per cent last year.
Some 41.9 per cent of students at state academies achieved A or A* grades this year, while for comprehensives it was 39.3 per cent.
The Sutton Trust said the pandemic has "compounded existing inequalities and today's results are a reflection of that".
Founder and chairman Sir Peter Lampl said: "We're seeing growing gaps between independent and state schools at the top grades. This poses an immediate challenge for university admissions.
"While it's encouraging to see more students from less affluent areas going to university this year, it's of real concern that the gap between those from less affluent areas and those from well-off areas has grown.
"Given that disrupted learning has affected lower income youngsters more, we urge universities to give additional consideration to disadvantaged students."
More than a third of adults say number of young people going to university is too high
A survey by YouGov found that 35 per cent of adults say the number of young people going to university is too high.
The poll found that 10 per cent of respondents thought the number was too low, while 27 per cent said it was about right.
Russell Group universities look forward to welcoming 'record number' of students
Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group which represents 24 universities, said there has been "unprecedented demand" for places this year, with universities "working hard to accommodate as many students as possible".
He said institutions including the University of Oxford, the University of Leeds and Newcastle University look forward to welcoming a "record number of them".
However, university courses do face capacity constraints, with Dr Bradshaw adding: "Our universities also need to ensure every student gets the high-quality teaching and learning experience they quite rightly expect from us.
"Unfortunately, this means that on some courses our universities may not be able to accept students who narrowly missed their offer grades this time.
"Places may also be limited on some courses where clinical placement demand is significantly higher than normal."
3 in 4 UK adults receive both doses of a Covid vaccine
More than three quarters of adults in the UK have now received both doses of a Covid vaccine.
A total of 86,780,455 doses have been administered in the UK, with 47,091,889 people receiving a first dose (89 per cent) and 39,688,566 people receiving both doses (75 per cent).
Data from Public Health England (PHE) shows vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant. The analysis shows the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96 per cent effective and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92 per cent effective against hospitalisation after two doses.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Our incredible vaccine rollout has now provided vital protection against the virus to three quarters of all UK adults. This is a huge national achievement, which we should all be proud of.
“It’s so important that those who haven’t been vaccinated come forward as soon as possible to book their jab - to protect themselves, protect their loved ones and allow us all to enjoy our freedoms safely.”
Sajid Javid called the achievement "incredible" and "a testament to the fantastic work of the NHS, volunteers and everyone involved in the rollout."
The Health Secretary said getting two vaccine doses is the key to enjoying life's freedoms, such as travelling abroad and taking part in nights out.
Medical students offered £10k to change schools amid capacity restraints
Students who want to study medicine at university are being offered £10,000 if they are required to move medical schools amid capacity constraints.
The Medical Schools Council (MSC), which represents 44 heads of medical schools across the UK, has launched a "brokerage programme" for oversubscribed schools to ensure that applicants who have met the terms of their offer are still able to study medicine this year.
Under this scheme, students that are required to move medical schools will receive a payment of £10,000 "for the inconvenience", the MSC has said.
The Government announced last week that medicine and dentistry schools in England will receive extra funding to expand courses this year following an increase in applications for these subjects after the pandemic, when young people became increasingly inspired by medical heroes.
NHS head calls for students to join health service
The head of the NHS today called on students considering their options to take up one of the thousands of places available at university for more than 900 NHS-related courses.
Speaking at a hospital in Milton Keynes, Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, encouraged students to “make the best and most rewarding decision” and sign up for a career in the health service.
Ms Pritchard said: "As students up and down the country collect their exam results over the next few days, I want to encourage everyone who has been inspired by the incredible work of NHS staff to consider a career in the health service.
"Whether you want to study at university, or go straight into work, there are various routes into the NHS and with more than 350 different roles to choose from - including healthcare support workers, podiatrists, porters or midwives - there really is something for everyone.
"It is brilliant to see that a record number of people have applied for healthcare degrees and combined with this additional investment in even more new roles, we are strengthening the NHS workforce and building a strong future for the health service and for our patients.
“After the last 18 months, I’ve never been prouder to be a part of the NHS, so if you want to join us and make a difference to patients, please search NHS Careers today.”
SNP criticised after pupils 'judged more harshly' than last year
Scottish Conservatives have criticised the SNP after pass rates at grades A-C for Highers dropped to 87.3 per cent, compared to 89.3 per cent last year.
The party said analysis found students from poorer backgrounds were more likely to be marked down compared to last year's results.
Oliver Mundell MSP, the Scottish Tory shadow education secretary, said: "Despite the disruption they faced, the SNP's system has judged them more harshly than last year's pupils, as we warned was the case.
"Compared to last year, grades are down across the board. The attainment gap is up. That should set alarm bells ringing that this year's system is just as flawed and unfair as the shambles pupils suffered last year.
"But most damning of all, pupils from poorer backgrounds have been marked down the most from 2020 to 2021. That is nothing short of a disgrace."
Sajid Javid: Pandemic has 'clearly inspired' next generation of healthcare students
Sajid Javid said there has been a record number of acceptances for healthcare courses, as students in the UK today received their A Level results.
The Health Secretary said it showed the "dedication" healthcare professionals have shown during the Covid-19 pandemic has "clearly inspired the next generation in our health service".
Countries should prioritise world's vulnerable over booster shots, says expert
Dr Gregg Gonsalves, associate professor of epidemiology at Yale University, told a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus that countries should prioritise vulnerable people in other parts of the world before considering booster programmes.
He said: "Every country in the world that is sitting on doses needs to get them on a plane and get them to the places that need them now.
"You have vaccinated most people in the UK.
"If we're going to boost people in the UK and United States before the rest of the world, we have to ask really what we're doing and whom we're doing it for.
"I have two doses of Pfizer, I'll be protected against serious disease and death. I don't need another booster, the data shows that I'm adequately protected against serious disease and hospitalisation.
"So, let's get the doses on the plane, let's move them quickly."
He added: "Our vision for global vaccination is underwhelming to say that least and we have to do more."
Reporting of 'frightening' high Covid data needs to change as infection becomes endemic, says expert
Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said the way infections are reported might need to change as Covid-19 becomes endemic.
He told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus: "I think we need to start moving away from just reporting infections, just reporting positive cases admitted to hospital, to actually start reporting the number of people who are ill because of Covid, those positives that are symptomatic.
"We need to be moving towards reporting hospital admissions that are admitted because of Covid, not because they just happen to be positive and they're being admitted for something else."
He said the distinction in someone being ill with Covid or because of Covid is not always an easy one to make for clinicians.
He added: "I think we've got to start moving to that, otherwise as infection becomes endemic we are going to be frightening ourselves with very high numbers that actually don't translate into disease burden."
Brampton Manor's top students react to A Level results
East London state school Brampton Manor Academy has confirmed more offers for its pupils to study at Oxbridge today than Eton College - with 55 students set to start their studies at the prestigious institutions.
As well as Oxford and Cambridge, top students at the inner-city school will also study at LSE, UCL and Warwick, along with Harvard and Stanford in the US, among other leading universities.
Variants which evade vaccine protection are an 'absolute inevitability', says expert
Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said that variants which would escape the protection of vaccine were an "absolute inevitability".
He told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus: "It is absolutely inevitable that we are going to get escape variants coming in."
Prof Hunter said the seasonal coronaviruses in circulation will infect people "repeatedly" throughout their lives, typically on average every four or five years, with a quarter of the UK population getting infected on average each year.
Prof Devi Sridhar, chair in global public health at the University of Edinburgh, added: "We have already seen Alpha, Beta, Delta, it is inevitable."
She added that vaccines had "transformed" the pandemic but "not solved it".
Herd immunity 'not a possibility' with Delta variant, says expert
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, has said herd immunity is "not a possibility" with the current Delta variant.
He told a session of the All-Party Group on Coronavirus: "We know very clearly with coronavirus that this current variant, the Delta variant, will still infect people who have been vaccinated and that does mean that anyone who's still unvaccinated, at some point, will meet the virus."
He added: "I think we are in a situation here with this current variant where herd immunity is not a possibility because it still infects vaccinated individuals."
He predicted that the next thing may be "a variant which is perhaps even better at transmitting in vaccinated populations" making it "even more of a reason not to be making a vaccine programme around herd immunity."
London state school outperforms Eton - with 55 pupils set for Oxbridge
Pupils at inner-city state school Brampton Manor Academy in Newham, east London, have outperformed the number of Oxbridge offers made to students at prestigious Eton College.
55 students at Brampton Manor received the A Level grades needed to study at Oxbridge, which is more than the 48 offers made to Eton College students.
The majority of pupils at Brampton Manor are from ethnic minority backgrounds, in receipt of free school meals, or will be the first in their family to attend university.
Ade Olugboji, 18, of Purfleet, Essex, got four A*s and is going to study maths and philosophy at Oxford, and praised Brampton's "philosophy of hard work".
Nana Arthur, 18, of Rainham, east London, who is heading to Cambridge University to study philosophy, said: "We are disadvantaged people and this school gave us a way to move up.
"To be honest, as soon as you come into this school you can't not succeed - it is quite infectious."
Kenny Ikeji, 18, of Dagenham, east London, got the three A* grades he needed to study computer science at Harvard University - and said the school's success is no surprise because of "how hard everyone here works".
Bangladesh begins vaccinating Rohingya refugees amid case surge in camps
Bangladesh has started vaccinating Rohingya refugees against Covid-19, as a surge in cases within the cramped camps - which house more than one million people who fled Myanmar - raises health concerns.
The Delta variant has driven an infection surge across the country, with around 20,000 infections and 200 deaths recorded so far in Cox's Bazar district, the southern region bordering Myanmar where the refugee camps are located.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said a national positivity rate of around 30 per cent indicates the spread of coronavirus is much higher, especially with cramped conditions and the risks faced by many people living in the refugee camps.
The government's Civil Surgeon's office in Cox's Bazar and aid agencies began the vaccination campaign across 34 camps alongside Bangladesh's national vaccination effort.
Can a traditional Indian herb promote long Covid recovery?
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the All India Institute of Ayurveda will work together on a trial to find out whether a traditional Indian herb, called ashwagandha, can help people recover from long Covid.
Commonly known as Indian winter cherry, the herb is traditionally used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to boost energy, reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.
The double-blind clinical trial will involve 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid and will take place over one year, with half of the trial participants taking 500mg of ashwagandha tablets twice daily for three months, while the other 1,000 participants will be given a placebo.
The randomly selected participants will have a monthly follow-up of self-reported quality of life, impairment to activities of daily living, mental and physical health symptoms, supplement use and adverse events.
Dr Sanjay Kinra, professor in clinical epidemiology at LSHTM and principal investigator on the study, said: "It's really exciting to be working on this trial of traditional Indian medicine to see if it can help solve a global public health crisis and improve people's recovery from Covid-19.
"Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce symptoms of other conditions that are similar to those of long Covid, so we are hopeful that it will be an effective way to combat the condition."
First case of deadly Ebola-like Marburg virus detected in West Africa
A highly infectious haemorrhagic virus similar to Ebola has been detected for the first time in West Africa, triggering a rush to identify potential contacts and squash the outbreak before it spreads.
Marburg virus was detected in a male patient in Guinea who has since died, according to the World Health Organization.
The pathogen is from the same family of viruses as Ebola, but it has no known vaccines or treatments and a fatality rate as high as 88 per cent.
The individual sought treatment in the Gueckedou province, a region in southeast Guinea close to both Sierra Leone and Liberia, raising some concerns that it could jump across the borders.
“The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa, adding that Guinea’s health workers had instigated “quick investigative action”.
- Sarah Newey has more details here
Austria to start delivering booster shots from October
Austria is planning to start administering Covid-19 vaccine booster shots on 17 October, the country's health minister announced.
The booster rollout will start almost nine months after the first group of people to get vaccinated received their second dose, with the first wave including vulnerable people in nursing homes and medical workers.
Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told broadcaster ORF: "There are certain groups, for example, immunosuppressed people, where it may be possible to vaccinate even earlier after consultation with the doctor."
Around 60 per cent of Austria's total population of 8.9 million has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 54 per cent are fully vaccinated, according to government data.
Gavin Williamson claims to have 'forgotten' his own A Level results
Gavin Williamson claimed he had "forgotten" his A Level results after being asked about his performance during an interview on LBC.
The Education Secretary, when asked by presenter Nick Ferrari how he had performed during his own exams, said he remembered "seeing the grades on there and feeling absolute delight".
“It was so long, it was 27 years ago.. I’ve forgotten, it was so long ago,” he said when he was pressed on what the grades were.
Mr Ferrari responded by asking whether Mr Williamson’s results were a “state secret”.
Almost half of all students have been awarded A or A* grades in the absence of exams, with marks determined entirely by teachers.
Writing for the Telegraph on Monday night, Mr Williamson said it was a time to “celebrate students and teachers and worry about a return to formal exams later”.
Boris Johnson congratulates students receiving A-levels after 'extremely challenging' year
The Prime Minister congratulated students receiving their A-level results after what he called an "extremely challenging" year.
In a video on Twitter, he added: "Congratulations to everybody getting their A-level results today.
"I know it's been a particularly difficult year for everybody doing A-levels because of the pandemic and the conditions in which you've been working, but thank you for persevering, thank you for getting on with, obviously thank you also to your amazing teachers.
"I hope you've done well. If you haven't got exactly the results that you were wanting, never mind, it happens to the best of us and there are plenty of options available through Ucas.
"If you have done well, which I'm sure you have, then well done and good luck with your next big moves.
"Can I suggest that one of them should be straight away, if you hadn't yet done it, to get a vaccination, get a jab."
Covid-19 weekly deaths in England and Wales at highest level since March
The number of deaths involving coronavirus registered each week in England and Wales has climbed to its highest level since the end of March, new figures show.
A total of 404 deaths registered in the week ending July 30 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
This is up 24pc on the previous week and is the highest number since 719 deaths were registered in the week to March 26.
Deaths dipped as low as 84 in the week to June 11.
The latest figures reflect the impact of the third wave of Covid-19, which began in the UK in May and led to a sharp increase in the number of new cases of coronavirus as well as a smaller rise in hospital patients.
Pass rate in Scotland down from last year but higher than pre-pandemic levels
School results in Scotland are consistently lower than last year but have shown a sharp rise since 2019, figures published on Tuesday show, as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted a second school year.
Students have known their individual grades since the end of June, due to the use of an alternative grading model focused more heavily on teacher judgement.
But in general, the rate of students receiving between and A and a C - known as the attainment rate - fell in all of the qualifications published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority on Tuesday.
For National 5 qualifications, the attainment rate was 85.8pc this year, compared to 89pc in 2019-20 - but is still substantially higher than the 78.2pc reported for the 2018-19 school year.
Unvaccinated Germans face more Covid tests to avoid restrictions
Germany needs to increase testing and boost vaccinations to avoid another Covid-19 lockdown, the conservative candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor said on Tuesday, before government talks to curb a rise in new cases.
Less than seven weeks before a federal election, Ms Merkel and leaders of the 16 federal states will try to agree on measures to avoid a new wave of infections, driven by the spread of the delta variant, and avert unpopular restrictions.
"We want to and will test more to avoid a new lockdown," Armin Laschet told the North Rhine-Westphalia assembly.
Hoping to become chancellor after a September 26 election, Mr Laschet is desperate to avoid new restrictions and said Germany should introduce incentives to encourage more people to get vaccinated and also ramp up compulsory testing.
Ucas chief celebrates record number of students getting place at first-choice university
The chief executive of Ucas has celebrated the fact that a record number of students have got a place on their first-choice university course.
In a response to questions around grade inflation rising from teacher-based assessments, Clare Marchant told BBC Breakfast: "We know that we have got record numbers that have got their first choice, which is brilliant and to be massively congratulated.
"It's not just around the grades - we are seeing increased numbers of 18-year-olds in the population, and increased demand for higher education, so all of that contributes.
"We know from last year that universities and colleges were super-flexible so, where they can expand capacity, that's exactly what they will be looking at doing."
Pandemic heroes inspired leap in nursing degrees
The professionalism shown by nurses during the coronavirus pandemic could be behind a leap in the number of students, leading nurses have said.
Ucas figures show the number of students accepted onto nursing courses has increased by 8pc from last year, to 26,730.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that the increase is "encouraging" but warned of significant staff shortages.
It said the newest cohort of undergraduate students will not qualify until 2024 at the earliest.
RCN director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: "This latest increase in acceptances to nursing courses is encouraging and is no doubt a result of the high profile and professionalism of nursing staff during the pandemic."
Almost half of A-levels awarded A or A*
Nearly half of A-levels have been awarded an A or A* this year, with almost double the proportion of top marks compared to before the pandemic as grade inflation pushed results to a record high.
This year 44.8 per cent of A-levels in the UK were awarded top grades compared to 25.5 per cent in 2019, the last year that students took formal exams.
Thousands of school-leavers are receiving their results today which are based on teachers’ predictions after exams were cancelled for the second year owing to the pandemic.
Results today show an even bigger share of top grades than last year, when results were also based on teachers’ predictions after a controversial algorithm was axed, with 38.5 per cent of students given A or A*.
Gavin Williamson: No guarantee exams will return next year despite fears of record grade inflation
Gavin Williamson could not guarantee that summer exams will return next year, despite concerns of record grade inflation on Tuesday.
The proportion of A-levels graded A or higher leapt from 25.5 per cent in 2019 to 38.5 per cent in 2020, after the Government adopted a last-minute change to the way exams were assessed during a chaotic results day. This year's grade inflation is expected to be even higher.
But the Education Secretary insisted grades had been awarded on a "rigorous" basis, adding that despite the disruption to education "they have still achieved so very much and employers can have real confidence in the grades that they get".
Mr Williamson also raised the prospect that teacher assessment could continue next year, telling Sky News: "In a few weeks time as we go back to the winter period, we will be doing another extensive consultation about contingency, which will largely be based on teacher assessed grades.
"I very much hope we will be moving into more normal patterns from next year... We are planning to move back to exams as part of assessment but always have to have contingency plans."
Gavin Williamson: Pupils will continue to need extra support into 2022
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that, while the Government wants to return to an exam-based system, pupils will continue to need extra support into 2022.
"We also recognise that those students who will be taking exams in 2022 will have also had their education disrupted," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He said however that he hopes it will be possible to return to a more normal system before 2024.
"I would hope that we would be able to move to a normal system of exams much more rapidly than that, but we are making sure that we are getting the support in place for students again who have seen disruption to their education," he said.
"For me that is incredibly important. The impact of the pandemic isn't just one year."
The Government expects all universities to be moving back to face-to-face teaching
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Government expects all universities to be moving back to face-to-face teaching.
He told Sky News: "Universities are autonomous institutions. Our guidance is clear, our direction is clear and we do expect all universities, unless there's unprecedented reasons, to be moving back to the situation of actually delivering lessons, lectures, face-to-face."
Asked if refunds should be given if that is not the case, Mr Williamson said: "Universities have got to stand up their offers to their students, but we have got the Office for Students, which is targeting universities which have low-quality courses, which aren't doing enough, and we will give the OFS all the power, all the backing, in order to pursue those universities that aren't delivering enough for students that are paying their fees."
He added: "I think if universities are not delivering, not delivering what students expect, then actually they shouldn't be charging the full fees."
Doctors facing 'rising level' of patient abuse
Medics who have battled coronavirus on the frontline for more than a year and a half have faced a torrent of abuse from patients, a new poll has revealed.
The British Medical Association (BMA) warned of a "rising level of abuse" towards GPs as it called on the public to be kind to NHS workers.
The poll from the doctors' union found that more than a third of doctors have faced "recent abuse" from patients or those accompanying them to appointments.
This was even higher among GPs where half said they had been abused in some format during the past month.
The NHS said that it will "not tolerate" abuse or violence towards staff.
The survey of more than 2,400 doctors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland found that some doctors reported being physically assaulted.
Gavin Williamson: Employers can have 'real confidence' in grades awarded
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said "employers can have real confidence" in the grades awarded to pupils.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: "This is a culmination of 13 years in education, I think we should be incredibly proud of their achievements, incredibly proud of the grades that they achieve."
He said: "We do have a rigorous system of grading and awarding. People have been awarded this grade on the basis of evidence.
"We took a difficult decision, and that decision was children were to be assessed on what they had been taught. We have seen various amounts of disruption around the country and children's experiences have been different.
"But still, you have a very clear grading system, you still see children who are achieving A*s, As, Bs, Cs, have really achieved so very, very much, and I think employers can have real confidence in the grades that they get. Let's not forget this is an unprecedented year."
Resume face-to-face lectures or cut fees, Education Secretary tells universities
Universities should return to face-to-face lectures or cut their fees, the Education Secretary has said.
Gavin Williamson told Sky News that the Government's guidance and direction is "clear" and it is expected that all universities, unless there are "unprecedented reasons", move back to delivering face-to-face lectures.
He said that universities have “got to stand up their offer to their students," and that he will task the Office for Students to target universities with low-quality courses who are not "delivering enough for students who are paying their fees".
Mr Williamson added: "I think if universities are not delivering what students expect, then actually they shouldn’t be charging the full fees for what they’re doing."
Next year's results to be 'largely based' around teacher-assessed grades
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Government will consult on a contingency plan "largely based around" teacher-assessed grades for next year, but with a hope to move back to an examination system.
Asked on Sky News what the contingency plans are for next year's exams, he said they will be "largely based around teacher-assessed grades, but we very much hope that we will be moving to a system of where we are able to move into the more normal pattern of examinations from next year, but always conscious that this pandemic, we have not always been able to predict the course of it, it has continuously changed, and it's absolutely right that we have contingencies there, as we always do."
Asked if he was ruling out teacher assessments for this time next year, he said: "What we are saying is you will probably have seen our consultation in the last academic year, we are very much planning to move back to examinations as a form of assessment, but we always have to have a contingency plan in place, and that's why we will be consulting in the next academic year on those plans."
Students to receive A-level results after exams cancelled for second year in row
Sixth-formers across the country are waking up to their A-level results which have been determined by teachers after this summer's exams were cancelled.
Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving grades to help them progress on to university, work or training, with some experts predicting that "inflation" may occur this year.
Last year, nearly two in five (38.6pc) of UK A-level entries were awarded A or A* grades - a record high - following a U-turn over grading, compared to just one in four (25.5pc) in 2019.
If more students gain top grades - which are being submitted by teachers after exams were cancelled for the second year - then it will be more difficult for top universities to differentiate between applicants, it has been suggested.
Green light for new vaccine study in South Korea
South Korea gave vaccine developer SK Bioscience the green light today for a Phase III study of its Covid vaccine candidate at a time of vaccine shortages, when a spurt in infections is fuelling demand.
The clinical trial of GBP510, the candidate for the first domestic vaccine, will weigh its immunogenicity and safety against AstraZeneca's vaccine, drug safety minister Kim Gang-lip said.
Three-thousand of the 3,990 adults in the trial will receive the experimental vaccine and 990 will get AstraZeneca doses, with an interval of four weeks.
SK Bioscience said data from early trials of 80 healthy adults who received the two-dose protein-based vaccine showed they all induced neutralising antibodies against the virus.
India records nearly 30,000 new infections
India has reported 28,204 new infections over the past 24 hours, the lowest since March 16, according to government data.
India's overall case load touched 32 million, the health ministry data showed.
Overall deaths in the country increased by 373 overnight, pushing the tally to 428,682.
Mandarins may be stripped of ‘London weighting’
Civil servants who refuse to return to the office could have their pay cut under plans being considered by some government departments.
Mandarins face being stripped of "London weighting" – a salary top-up worth £4,000 to offset the high costs of living in the capital – if they resist a partial return to the workplace.
However, one government source said such a move would have to be agreed by the Civil Service Commissioner, adding that unions might suggest strike action.
Mexico asks for US help with jabs
Mexico is calling for the United States to send at least 3.5 million more doses of Covid vaccines as the country faces a third wave of infections
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday that he planned to discuss a transfer of vaccines with US Vice President Kamala Harris during a call scheduled for later in the day.
Lopez Obrador said the US government had initially offered the Moderna vaccine, but Mexican health authorities could not get the necessary approvals in time so now they are considering Pfizer or another approved vaccine.
Mexico has vaccinated more than 50 million people with at least one dose, representing about 56pc of the adult population. It has received 91.1 million doses of five different vaccines.
PCR swabs pile up on the streets
One of Britain’s biggest private test firms has been hit by an angry backlash from travellers after pictures emerged of dozens of its swabs piled up in plain view on streets.
The images of its over-full metal drop boxes with completed test kits balanced on top of them and awaiting collection were branded a “symbol of the absolute mess that PCR testing has become”.
Randox, which is said to have made £120 million from processing 15 million tests since the start of the pandemic, recommends customers should use its free drop boxes to return their test samples.
Infection numbers rising in China
China has reported 143 new Covid cases on the mainland for Monday.
China's latest clusters are mainly driven by the highly transmissible delta variant.
Among the new infections - the highest number China has reported since January, 108 were locally transmitted, while the remainder were imported from abroad, the National Health Commission (NHC) said.
Most local infections were in the eastern province of Jiangsu and the central province of Henan.
Sydneysiders 'feel there's a double standard'
New South Wales has reported 356 locally acquired cases of Covid - its biggest daily rise in the pandemic - as officials scramble to contain the virus that has now spread to the northern parts of the struggling Australian state.
Of the cases reported on Tuesday, at least 57 have spent time in the community while infectious, the state's health department said.
Authorities also said four people died from the virus, taking the total deaths in the state from the latest outbreak to 32.
Meanwhile, on the sands of Bondi Beach, one of Sydney's wealthiest suburbs, surfers and seaside walkers jostle for space, while joggers clog the nearby promenade and fitness buffs huddle around public exercise equipment.
To the west, where Covid infections are greatest, stores remain shut on empty streets as some of Australia's most migrant-heavy neighbourhoods endure heightened lockdowns, enforced by high-visibility policing backed up by the military.
"The community here is really struggling at the moment and they feel there's a double standard," said Bilal El-Hayek, a councillor from the city's west who spends most days helping deliver food packages to people who don't qualify for pandemic-related support payments.
"You see photos and videos coming out of the east, people on the beach, whereas here the streets are absolutely empty."
Melbourne's numbers rise as delta takes hold
Australia's state of Victoria reported a slight rise in new Covid cases on Tuesday, raising the prospect of an extended lockdown in Melbourne as officials battle to contain a delta strain outbreak.
State officials reported 20 new cases, up from 11 a day earlier, and added dozens of new venues to a list of virus-exposed sites in Melbourne, including cafes, supermarkets and petrol stations.
In line with recent trends, and worrying officials, 15 of the cases were in the community while infectious. Health officials have said the number of people who are in public while infectious needs to be close to zero before lockdowns are lifted.
Melbourne's lockdown is currently scheduled to end on Thursday.
US struggles with hospital treatment
Only eight intensive care beds were available on Monday in the state of Arkansas, its governor said, as the rapid spread of the delta variant pushed cases and hospitalisations in the United States to a six-month high.
In neighbouring Texas, Governor Greg Abbott asked hospitals to postpone elective surgeries as the variant raged through swathes of the country including many southern states grappling with low vaccination rates.
Nationwide, Covid cases have averaged 100,000 for three days in a row, up 35pc over the past week, according to a Reuters tally of public health data.
Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas reported the most new cases in the past week, based on population.
Today's top stories
- Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, has defended this year's A-level results despite concerns over record levels of grade inflation, saying students "deserve to be rewarded" after a year of disruption.
- One of Britain’s biggest private test firms has been hit by an angry backlash from travellers after pictures emerged of dozens of its swabs piled up in plain view on streets.
- GPs are experiencing rising levels of abuse from patients struggling to access help or unhappy with the service available, a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) shows.
- Civil servants who refuse to return to the office could have their pay cut under plans being considered by some government departments.
- Holidaymakers in France are being turned away from events as well as bars and restaurants because their NHS codes are not being accepted.
- A Cardiff chef whose parents and brother died within days of each other says his family "got caught up" in anti-vaxxer misinformation and became scared to undergo inoculation.
- Covid vaccine hesitancy is dwindling among young people, according to the Office for National Statistics.
- A crowd - thought to be anti-vaccination protesters - clashed with police as they tried to gain entry to TV studios where the ITV show Loose Women was being filmed.


text:
An expert guide to Cuba’s economic opening to the outside world. Ninety miles across the Straits of Florida, an exciting new revolution is afoot. This time, instead of guerillas marching down the streets of Havana, it is a global economy that will upend Cuba. Now opening to the world, what new forms is this nascent economy likely to take? Open for Business: The New Cuban Economy, Richard E. Feinberg’s new book, examines the Cuban economy as it makes its early steps into developing a more dynamic market economy. He examines key issues like the role foreign investors will play, how Cubans will forge a path to entrepreneurship, and the roadmaps suggested by other emerging economies. As Cuba’s economy awakens from the post-Castro dream, it will do so with a flavor that is uniquely Cuban. Feinberg’s book—enriched by interviews and in-depth field research conducted over the last five years—speaks both to Cuba’s legacy and to its new horizons on the world stage.
Welcome to the series of original mysteries starring Adrian Monk--based on the hit USA Network series Monk, starring Tony Shaloub--the brilliant investigator who always knows when something’s out of place.... Failing to win back his girlfriend in New Jersey, Monk returns to San Francisco where Natalie has set up an office for Monk and Teeger, Consulting Detectives. It’s time to stop bickering and get to work when Lieutenant Amy Devlin comes to them for help. A disgruntled employee came into work and started shooting, killing three coworkers and leaving a female hostage severely wounded. After spotting the shooter through office windows, the police lost him—leaving Lieutenant Devlin with a real mess on her hands. Visiting the bedridden survivor, Monk finds her to be helpful, cooperative…and quite charming as well. But the more he and Natalie try to track down the assailant, the more he seems to have disappeared from existence altogether....
This second volume in a series of studies on The Colonial Economy of NSW covers one of the most important economic drivers of the colonial period - the commissariat of NSW. This series relates the key aspects of the economic history of NSW and essential that of early Australia. Starting in 1788, the series is a retrospective on the colonial economy (volume 1) followed by research of the two main economic drivers of the period - the commissariat (volume 2) and the Government Business Enterprises (volume 3). This innovative and well researched series leads to interesting conclusions about the era, which will create long discussions about the true role of this British penal settlement in 1788.
Challenging theories of ownership that range from conservative to Marxist, this book investigates the controversy of foreign ownership of the Canadian economy. Laxer looks at such recent topics in this debate as the National Energy Program, FIRA, and the Canada-US free trade deal and argues that the assumptions about external control, the role of the Canadian elite, and the effects of geography are not adequate to explain Canada's failure to development more independently.

domain: library


text:
Divya Drishti Latest Cast List: Mishkat Verma adds to star cast
Divya Drishti cast and crew updates:
Star Plus’s popular supernatural serial, Divya-Drishti welcomes handsome and talented actor, Mishkat Verma in its star cast.
Based on the cast spoilers of Divya Drashti serial, Mishkat Verma is chosen by the makers to play a lead role in the serial.
Divya-Drashti has gained a lot of popularity with its supernatural concept and stellar chemistry between Rakshit and Drishti. The present story is revolving around Pishachini's daughter Patali who has created troubles for Divya and Drishti.
On the professional front, Mishkat Verma has worked in many serials like Nisha Aur Uske Cousins, Aur Pyaar Ho Gya Ichhapyaari Naagin.
We wish Mishkat Verma all the best for his new venture.

domain: celebrity


text:
The Department of Education broadly defines restraint as restricting a student’s ability to move their torso, arms, legs, or head freely, and seclusion as confining a student alone in an area they may not leave. Education has said these practices should never be used except when a child’s behavior poses imminent danger.
We testified that:
Education regularly collects restraint and seclusion data from schools.
Nationally, use of restraint and seclusion is rare—but students with disabilities and boys are disproportionately affected.
Education and the Department of Justice work to address potential discrimination related to these practices.
The Department of Education building
What GAO Found
The Department of Education (Education) collects a range of information—including incidents of restraint and seclusion of public school children—from nearly every public school and school district in the nation, as part of its biennial Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). Schools and districts are to use the CRDC's definitions of restraint and seclusion when counting and reporting incidents. Specifically, under Education's definitions, physical restraint broadly refers to restricting the student's ability to freely move his or her torso, arms, legs, or head. Mechanical restraint broadly refers to the use of any device or equipment to restrict a student's freedom of movement. Seclusion broadly refers to involuntarily confining a student alone in a room or area from which he or she cannot physically leave.
In March 2018, GAO reported on the use of discipline, including the prevalence of restraint and seclusion in K-12 public schools, using CRDC data for school year 2013-14, the most recent available data at the time of the work. Nationally, these data showed that the use of restraint and seclusion was very rare, but that some groups of students, in particular students with disabilities and boys, experience these actions disproportionately. For example, approximately 61,000 students were physically restrained in school year 2013-14, representing about 0.1 percent of all K-12 public school students. Mechanical restraint and seclusion were less prevalent, but again disproportionately affected the same groups of students.
Education's Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division are responsible for enforcing a number of civil rights laws, which protect students from discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics. As part of their enforcement responsibilities, both agencies conduct investigations in response to complaints or reports of possible discrimination. Federal agencies have also provided guidance and resources on restraint, seclusion, and behavioral supports in recent years. For example, Education's 2012 Restraint and Seclusion Resource Document outlines principles for school districts and stakeholders to consider when developing policies to avoid the use of restraint and seclusion. In January 2019, Education announced a new initiative to address possible inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion in schools. According to Education, the Office for Civil Rights in partnership with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will be conducting compliance reviews focused on the inappropriate restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities and will work with schools to correct noncompliance.
Why GAO Did This Study
GAO's work has shown that the use of restraint and seclusion in K-12 public schools nationwide is more prevalent among students with disabilities and boys. Education has issued guidance stating that restraint or seclusion should never be used except in situations where a child's behavior poses imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others. In January 2019, Education released information on a new initiative focused on the inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion, particularly for students with disabilities.
This testimony discusses (1) how Education collects data on the use of restraint and seclusion, (2) what Education's data tells us about the use of restraint and seclusion in public schools, and (3) resources or initiatives at the federal level to address the use of restraint and seclusion. It is based on a report GAO issued in March 2018. This testimony also includes updated data on Education's ongoing civil rights investigations related to the restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities and Education's recent initiative on the use of these practices.
For more information, contact Jacqueline M. Nowicki at (617) 788-0580 or email@example.com.


text:
A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday after a Baltimore County jury became deadlocked in the case of a construction worker accused of making a death threat against the governor.
Walter C. Abbott, 47, who admitted sending Gov. Martin O'Malley a curse-filled email three years ago threatening to strangle him, maintained that it had merely been a ploy to draw attention to the cause of illegal immigration and that his words were protected by the First Amendment.
It was Abbott's second trial on the charges. In February 2010, Maryland's second-highest court threw out a conviction against him after concluding that a Baltimore County judge failed to tell jurors how to determine whether the email constituted an actual threat to the governor's life.
After that trial, Abbott was given a six-month suspended sentence and two years of probation. On Wednesday, he walked out of court uncertain whether he would be tried again. The prosecutor, Assistant State's Attorney Thomas Tompsett, said no decision had been made.
Abbot's lawyer, Arthur M. Frank, said it would be pointless for prosecutors to do so. "After the state spent a small fortune trying a case against a person who is obviously not a violent person, trying him a third time would be a complete waste of government resources and judicial time and energy," he said.
Tompsett said the jury explained later that there had been a 10-2 deadlock, with the majority favoring conviction.
"I was really hoping to get an answer" from O'Malley, Abbott said outside the courtroom after the mistrial had been declared. "I believe it was my First Amendment right to write a harsh statement to try to get a reply. I just got a much bigger reply than what I wished for."

domain: sociology


text:
Mobile banking apps revolutionised how we bank today. Some 62% of consumers now conduct most of their regular banking activities on apps. But though users admit there are plenty of benefits to using banking apps, the majority remain concerned about security issues with mobile banking.
Banking app users rely on their apps daily
According to a survey of 2,000 US adults by NerdWallet, the personal finance company, 33% of respondents said they used their mobile banking apps now more than before the pandemic, highlighting the effect of lockdowns on our shifting consumer behaviours.
A majority of 73% of mobile banking app users said their bank’s app was user-friendly and around 62% conduct their regular banking activities via a mobile app. Almost half of users (41%) don’t even feel the need to seek out their physical bank branches. In the long run, mobile app banking apps could render physical bank branches obsolete.
The shift toward mobile banking is being driven by several advantages such s 24/7 access to their accounts, no wait times, and easy movement of money between accounts. Other advantages include mobile banking apps offering higher interest rates due to their significantly lower overheads.
Security concerns prevail
However, security issues are one of the main reasons for not using banking apps (42%) while 47% just don’t feel the need to use a banking app.
Achieve and exceed your goals with a high-impact strategy!
Moburst creates category leaders and is the powerhouse behind the giants like Google, Reddit, and Uber. Let us help you elevate your growth game today!Start Your FREE Growth Audit
And they’re not the only ones, even existing users are concerned about the security of their banking details (74%). The most troublesome issues include worries about an account being hacked (46%), someone accessing a user account if a phone is stolen (38%) and getting locked out from an account (33%).
- 62% of users say they now conduct most of their regular banking activities on apps
- 33% use their mobile banking apps now more than before the pandemic
- 74% are concerned about security issues with banking apps


text:
Actor Mickey Rooney said Congress should pass legislation to end elder abuse in a hearing before the Senate Special Committee on Aging yesterday.
“My money was stolen from me, by someone close,” said Rooney, 90, an entertainment legend whose credits include the “Andy Hardy” film series and movies such as “Night at the Museum.” “I was eventually and completely stripped of the ability to make even the most basic decisions in my own life.”
Rooney told other seniors who may be victims not to stay silent as he did for years. “You are not alone and you have nothing to be ashamed of,” he said.
Senator Herb Kohl, (D-Wis.) chairman of the aging committee, said he was reintroducing the “Elder Abuse Victims Act” yesterday.
The bill would establish an Office of Elder Justice within the Department of Justice and strengthen enforcement in cases of abuse.


text:
Just more footage of hateful, bloodthirsty, anti-American Muslims ... Oh wait, what? These fed-up Libyans marched in the thousands to remove extremist militias from Benghazi? They evicted the very same extremists possibly tied to the assassination of ambassador J Christopher Stevens?!
In fact, 30,000 people marched in Benghazi last Friday – and this came after brave citizens in the city of Derna held a week long sit-in to protest the militias' impunity. The BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera have reported on this; Bill Clinton's talked about it. Why isn't this remarkable event the story of the last two weeks?
Please watch, spread the word and stop the clash:
(Oh and here's a fun fact: Libyans are as pro-American as Israelis.)

domain: politics


text:
Anchor Bay // 2010 // 88 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Steve Power (Retired) // February 19th, 2010
Go to Hell!
The hit anime inspired by the hit videogame, which in turn was inspired by the hit classic epic poem. What? Don't look at me like that, it isn't my fault.
Dante has broken his promise to his beloved Beatrice; it seems the mass murder and mass copulation he committed during the Third Crusade was actually frowned upon by the big man upstairs, and his loving betrothed is going to pay the price. Beatrice has been snagged by the big bad himself, and pulled into the lowest levels of Hell to spend an eternity serving the rebel angel.
Dante, being a man of blind action, leaps into the abyss in pursuit; his
only weapons are his sword, his scythe, and his loud faux British accent.
Lucifer is in trouble now.
I just don't know what to say here; I never in my life thought I would play a videogame based on the first arc (or cantica if you're feeling snooty) of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. As if that weren't bizarre enough, along comes the animated tie-in, brought to us by the folks at Film Roman (Dead Space: Downfall), which not only presents some pretty crazy imagery, but lifts dialogue verbatim from the source.
It all sounds pretty solid on paper; you take a classic piece of literature that presents a metric ton of unpleasant imagery and twist that sucker into a videogame. I mean, who wouldn't get behind a bad-ass European Crusader slicing and dicing his way through nine levels of hell only to go mano-a-mano with ol' Lucifer himself? Go one better, and release an animated telling of the poem with some contemporary flair and some of the twisted imagery from the game. Sadly, it never quite congeals into a digestible mass.
The biggest problem lies at the heart of the project; taking a cue from The Animatrix and Batman: Gotham Knight, Dante's Inferno is broken into several chapters, each of which was handled by a separate director, and in some cases, production house. When you're looking at a collection of disparate stories, this approach can be interesting and entertaining; however Dante's Inferno follows one narrative thread, and the switchup in styles is both distracting and off-putting. On top of that, while some of the chapters look fantastic, with some excellent animation and character rendering, other chapters are downright hideous in their presentation of the material. Dante himself goes from being armored up super-warrior, to long haired waif, to spike headed Dragonball Z cast-off in the span of the sub-90 minute run time. As enjoyable as some aspects of the show may be, the rag-tag animation is a total turn off and a very near fatal detriment, as far as I'm concerned.
In its favor, I will say that Dante's Inferno is probably the best written video game adaptation I've seen. There's not a whole lot of originality in the events, but Dante's tour of Hell in his quest to save his beloved from the horniest of horned-ones is actually a decent ride. The bursts of graphic violence are punctuated by deep personal moments where the script tells us just how much of a prick Dante was in life, while hiding behind the cross the whole time. There are some neat character turns here, and the final outcome is ultimately a satisfying one. No, it's not brilliant storytelling by any stretch, but it was enjoyable enough for me to take the plunge and snag a copy of the game for myself. Note to EA marketing department: Mission successful!
The Blu-ray treatment from Anchor Bay is also worth commending; the colors and linework of the animation just flow effortlessly off of the screen and the digital source looks crisp and clear with no issues whatsoever. Sound is also great, with tons of separation, booming voices, and great music. Not much in the way of extras, just some test animation and a trailer for EA's video game.
It's tough for me to tip the scales one way or the other with Dante's Inferno. On the one hand, it's a gratuitous adaptation of a piece of classic literature that should be immediately condemned as intellectually offensive. Then again, it's a solid production that while gimped by lackluster animation, manages to complement the source material quite well. Fans of the game will probably enjoy what they get.
Guilty, but only just.
Review content copyright © 2010 Steve Power; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2016 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Studio: Anchor Bay
* 1.78:1 Non-Anamorphic (1080p)
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
* English (SDH)
Running Time: 88 Minutes
Release Year: 2010
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

domain: entertainment


text:
From eating vegetables to exercising regularly, you are probably doing a number of things on a daily basis to keep your heart healthy. Sadly, heart disease remains the number one killer around the world, with many people inadvertently making choices that adversely affect their day-to-day heart health. However, it’s not just a sedentary lifestyle that could increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. Read on to find out which eating habits to avoid if you don’t want heart disease. And if you want to improve your health fast, start with the 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
While many people skip their morning meal as part of an intermittent fasting routine, it could contribute to heart problems down the line.
According to a 2019 study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, among a group of 199,634 adults who were not diagnosed with cardiovascular disease at the start of their respective study periods, those who did not eat breakfast regularly had a 21% higher risk of acute symptoms of cardiovascular disease (such as a heart attack and angina). ) or death from cardiovascular disease than those who ate breakfast regularly.
RELATED: Best Foods To Eat If You Have Heart Disease, Dietitians Say
While some high-fiber carbohydrates can be part of a healthy diet, your intake of refined carbohydrates, from white bread to sugary snacks, can increase your risk for heart disease.
A 2021 study published in BMJ found that, among a group of 148,858 participants in the Urban and Rural Prospective Epidemiology (PURE) study living in 21 countries, those with the highest intake of refined grains had the highest risk of events of heart disease health and overall mortality.
If red or processed meats, like sausage and bacon, are part of your regular routine, you could be putting your heart in danger.
A 2021 meta-analysis published in Critical opinions in food science and nutrition found that each daily increase of 50 grams of red meat increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 9% and that each daily increase of 50 grams of processed meat increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 18%.
RELATED: Doing this when you eat may increase your risk of heart attack, new study finds
You probably know that fried foods aren’t exactly healthy, but you might not realize how much they can affect your cardiovascular health.
A pooled data analysis published in the journal Heart in 2021, found that every 114 grams (about 4 ounces) increase in weekly fried food consumption was associated with a significant increase in heart disease risk. People who ate the most fried foods also had a 37% higher risk of heart failure, a 28% higher risk of major cardiovascular events, and a 22% higher risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who ate the smallest amounts of fried foods. .
If you want to keep your heart healthy over time, you might want to consider slowing down on those midnight snacks.
A 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that among a group of 7,771 adults without cancer, diabetes or heart disease at the start of the study period, those who reported eating regularly at night had increased arterial stiffness, which has been linked to cardiovascular disease. For more healthy living information delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!
Read this next:

domain: food


text:
Coral Reef Shower Curtain
This post about coral reef shower curtain Publish by Mia at Tuesday, Jun 19 2018. Tagged with
Coral reef shower curtain have 16 pictures of coral reef shower curtain, it's including images like: stunning fantasy best image for coral reef shower curtain concept and trends, unbelievable tamerin teal shower curtain everything turquoise for coral reef ideas and style, fascinating coral and teal shower curtain monogram blue reef best ideas of trends, fascinating bottlenose dolphins and coral reef photograph by konrad wothe image for shower curtain concept inspiration, shocking underwater life photograph by michal bednarek image for coral reef shower curtain ideas and trend, marvelous coral sea canvas print amp art photowall arte canvases and image of reef shower curtain popular trends, marvelous pink and gold shower curtain best inspiration from kennebecjetboat of coral reef style concept, incredible annie leibovitz the little mermaid hd wallpaper and background photos 1518887 image of coral reef shower curtain styles popular, astonishing coral reef with shipwreck in background deep blue sea and pic of shower curtain ideas inspiration, astonishing underwater coral reef digital art by elena kosvincheva pic for shower curtain trend and ideas, marvelous mystery of underwater treasure coral reef shower curtain concept and style, the best not easily broken 2018 film quotes theiapolis for coral reef shower curtain ideas and trends, appealing spotted porcupinefish photograph by dave fleetham picture for coral reef shower curtain trends and popular, inspiring coral reef clipart 5 clipartix pict for shower curtain ideas and inspiration, shocking page 2 life cycle publish with glogster pic for coral reef shower curtain trend and concept,
For your information, we've found all of this images from this site. Thank you for visiting coral reef shower curtain. Hope you find what you're looking.


text:
Mudslide weekend is here and it promises to be a rip-roaring, messy good time!
The third annual Holiday Valley Mudslide is an obstacle run, where runners can choose from two distances — 3.5 miles or 5.4 miles — with 11 obstacles interspersed.
The course starts by Spruce Lake, and don’t fret— you get a ride up on the chair lift so as to not exhaust your running muscles before you even start! Once at the top, runners navigate the ridgeline and then head back downhill, ending by Yodeler Lodge with the famous mudslide.
Sound like fun but forgot to register? No problem! Stop by Yodeler Lodge on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. for last-chance registration for $80. You’ll still get a T-shirt while supplies last.
This time is also the Friday night packet pickup, also known as Mudstock, where eager mud runners can head to Yodeler to prep for the race by enjoying live music and a drink or two with friends, old and new.
Kids can take part in Saturday’s fun, too! A special Kids’ Mini Mudslide will take place after the Mudslide, and includes a half-mile run with two obstacles and a mudslide at the end. Registration for the kids’ race is $5 on Saturday only at Yodeler Lodge.
If you can’t get to Holiday Valley until race day, Saturday packet pickup is 8 to 11 a.m. at Yodeler. You’ll be joined by hundreds of other racers, so be sure to get there early and allow at least an hour before your start time to get to the start of the course.
“I’ve run in other mud runs before, but this will be my first time at the Mudslide,” said Jamey Woodruff, 31, of Springville. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the course is like at Holiday Valley!”
“I can’t wait to see the obstacles in the kids’ race!” added Jamey’s daughter, Autumn, 10, who will also be participating for the first time this year.
Sound like fun but not much of a runner? You can still get in on the action by watching it from the sidelines. Spectators can ride up the Spruce chairlift for $5, or watch from the bottom at Yodeler and see muddy competitors slide on by. Checking out the Vendor Village is also sure to pass the time and will include The City Garage, Do-Op Gear, Power Bar and more.
After the race, the fun continues. The post-race party is a family-friendly event with a barbecue and music by DJ John Barry, and everyone is invited to bring Frisbees, hula hoops of other items to add to the fun.
Don’t miss out on this super muddy, super silly, super fun way to bond with friends and get a bit of a workout in the process. And wear a costume to make it even more fun! (There are even prizes for the most creative.)
For more information, visit www.holidayvalley.com.


text:
TORONTO, January 22, 2024 – Game Theory Films today announced the theatrical release dates for the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary 'Someone Lives Here', directed by Zack Russell.
Following an outstanding festival run in Canada and the U.S. that garnered major awards, Someone Lives Here will screen as part of TIFF’s Canada Top Ten on January 27 with Zack Russell in attendance for a Q&A. The film will also screen at Toronto's Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and Vancouver's VIFF Centre starting this month, in addition to Toronto's Revue Cinema in February.
The film won the Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary and Bill Nemtin Award for Best Social Impact Documentary at Hot Docs 2023.
Someone Lives Here is a modern-day David and Goliath Story, set against the backdrop of North America's housing crisis. Carpenter Khaleel Seivwright built small life-saving shelters for unhoused people living outside in Toronto during the winter of the pandemic. His actions attracted international attention, but also staunch opposition from the local government.
Awards and recognition:
Hot Docs 2023: Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary
Hot Docs 2023: Bill Nemtin Award for Best Social Impact Documentary
VIFF 2023: Best Canadian Documentary
DGC 2023: Nominee for Best Picture Editing and Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary
TFCA 2024: Nominee for Rogers Best Canadian Documentary
Vancouver, BC:January 26 - February 7: VIFF Centre
Toronto, ON:January 27: TIFF Lightbox / Canada’s Top TenJanuary 28: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
February 18 - 20: Revue Cinema
Additional theatres and markets to be announced.
(Poster/Photo/Video credit: Game Theory Films)


text:
The Est Vie Such Life First below is a part of 21 C Est La Vie Tattoo That Will Make You Happier Collection Gallery. This digital photography of Est Vie Such Life First has dimension 640 × 640 pixels. You can see a gallery of 21 C Est La Vie Tattoo That Will Make You Happier below. And if you think that this image are interested to share with your friends, don't hesitate to share it on your Social Media account.
Est Vie Such Life First - 21 C Est La Vie Tattoo That Will Make You Happier
There are many stories can be described in c est la vie tattoo. We have some best of galleries for your ideas, look at the picture, these are best pictures. Okay, you can vote them. Perhaps the following data that we have add as well you need.
Please click the picture to see the large or full size gallery. If you like and want to share please click like/share button, maybe you can help more people can inspired too. Here there are, you can see one of our c est la vie tattoo collection, there are many picture that you can found, do not miss them.

domain: artistic


The iPhone 12 Pro is the new flagship phone from Apple. Its new camera features an Ultra Wide, a Telephoto, and a Night mode to help you take better pictures in low light. The Super Retina XDR display boasts the brightest display yet, and the new A13 Bionic chipset provides outstanding performance, making it perfect for gaming, augmented reality, and other activities that require high-speed processing. It also comes with all-day battery life and is water-resistant.
The iPhone 12 is available in a variety of colors, including silver and gold, but the iPhone 12-Pro is only available in four colors: Pacific Blue, Gold, and Graphite. Pacific Blue is similar to the ocean color, while the gold model has a blush gold back and gold rails. Graphite and silver are more uniform, but the new iPhone does not come in a variety of colors. iPhone 12 Pro If you’re looking for an affordable phone, the iPhone is a great option for you.
The iPhone 12 Pro isn’t just about color. Its camera has improved, and it’s even more beautiful than before. The new smartphone also features a LIDAR sensor, which makes it easier to focus and capture images in low light situations. This feature is also essential if you want to take photos with your phone. Its telephoto lens adds more color to your life. However, the iPhone is still one of the most popular smartphones.
While the iPhone 12 Pro has a slightly larger screen than the iPhone 12, the 6.1-inch screen doesn’t feel as special. While the 6.7-inch screen of the iPhone Max is the largest iPhone to date, the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro feels more manageable and has more of the Pro perks. A 6.3-inch iPhone display is still very good. There is no comparison between the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone Max.
The price of the iPhones has remained steady since the launch of the new Apple iPhone line. It has four models and a MagSafe charging system. It also has a new A14 processor. Both models have a dual-camera set up. The iPhones have excellent camera resolution, but they are not the only reasons to get one of these phones. They’re both a good value and worth the money. There’s also an A14 chip inside, which is much faster and more accurate.
The iPhone 12 Pro is available in two models – the iPhone XS and the iPhone 12 Pro. Both models are available as SIM-free and unlocked. Some carriers offer rebates for activating new lines, while others offer them at a lower price. There are other options, but the iPhone XS and iPhone 12 are the best choices for the price. It is a versatile phone for anyone who wants to use it for business.


text:
Fancy Star Wars and Darts? Want to become the next Dart Vader??
- Hamsah Darts creates original designs nowhere else to be found, exclusively dedicated to darts lovers, who seek to express their love in this fascinating game through their everyday appearance.
- 'Dart Wars' is one of our most selling designs, originally inspired by the epic movies of George Lukas. Printed on a soft and lightweight premium t-shirt, this design is a bullseye hit on its own!
- A lovely comfortable and expressive tee, with the right amount of stretch and long-lasting colors that fight to fade as time goes by!
Grab yours now and start scoring your 180's in light-saber style, and the dart force may be with you!
• 100% ring-spun cotton
• Sport Grey is 90% ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Dark Heather is 65% polyester, 35% cotton
• 4.5 oz/y² (153 g/m²)
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center
|Width (inches)||16 ½||18||20||22||24||26||28|

domain: hobby


text:
Nobody saw it coming. Malaysia’s 14th general election brought a shocking end to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) 60 years of coalition rule.
Against all odds, Pakatan Harapan (PH) — the opposition coalition of four parties led by onetime prime minister Mahathir Mohamad — won 113 out of 222 seats in parliament and in doing so set in motion the prison release of the onetime political enemy of the country’s newest — and oldest — leader.
The BN coalition took a serious beating, retaining only 79 seats. It lost eight cabinet ministers and 19 deputy ministers, among them the leaders of the Malaysian Chinese Association, Malaysian Indian Congress and the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) that has ruled since independence from Britain in 1957.
The stunning election saw the return of strongman Mahatir, 92, who joined the opposition coalition to unseat his former protégé, Najib Razak — who has been embroiled in a massive state investment fund corruption scandal.
Najib resigned as UMNO president and BN chairman after the disastrous defeat. He is now barred from leaving the country and has had his apartments raided by police for documents related to the multi-billion dollar scandal.
Mahathir was sworn in on May 10, making him the oldest prime minister in the world. His tenure is likely to be short as he promised to free from prison and hand power to his former arch-rival, Anwar Ibrahim, after winning office.
The pact between Mahatir and Anwar is an unlikely twist in this dramatic election as Mahatir actually had a hand in jailing Anwar in 1998. While both shared the goal of removing “kleptocratic” Najib from power, it’s unclear how long the alliance will last.
Anwar, who was jailed on sodomy charges, received a full pardon from Malaysia’s king and will be eligible to re-enter Parliament after winning a by-election. He was freed from prison on Wednesday.
Why BN lost
Bread-and-butter issues explained the vote swing against the BN. Rising cost of living, complaints over the six per cent goods-and-services tax (GST), stagnant wages, higher fuel prices, an imbalance in development funding between the country’s various states and disgust with Najib’s corruption scandal were major election issues.
What’s more, the defections of key former UMNO leaders before the elections also underscored the party’s disunity and disconnect with the people. UMNO politicians like Daim Zainuddin, Rafidah Aziz and Rais Yatim were expelled for being critical of Najib. Other defectors later formed opposition parties to undermine BN’s vote share.
Finally, the return of Mahatir to the forefront of Malaysian politics played a pivotal role in rallying Malaysians against the BN. Mahatir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003; he once repressed a reform movement. However, his political astuteness, charisma and experience gave hope to Malaysians of all races and religions that a change of government was possible.
Electoral trickery failed
Malaysia’s elections are notorious for being among the most manipulated in the world. The Electoral Integrity Project gave Malaysia a score of 35 out of 100 for its unfair electoral practices, with a global ranking of 142 out of 158 countries.
Bersih, a civil society movement launched in 2006, also highlighted many unfair rules and practices, such as the inclusion of “phantom voters” in electoral rolls and the improper use of indelible ink that allowed voters to cast ballots more than once.
Read more: Malaysia's dire democratic crisis
The electoral odds were stacked against the opposition from the onset. The Election Commission (EC) gerrymandered electoral boundaries to sway marginal seats in its favour and create more safe seats.
The commission also chose a weekday for the election, ostensibly to reduce voter turnout which tends to favour the opposition, and kept the campaign period to the minimum 11 days required by law.
Mahatir’s party was deregistered over administrative irregularities and his photos were prevented from being displayed across the country due to supposed technicalities.
Nearer to voting day, Najib’s government also made US$159 million worth of electoral promises to woo voters. Last-minute pledges included income tax exemptions for Malaysians under 26 years old; making May 14 and 15 public holidays before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan; and five toll-free days on highways.
Voters didn’t fall for it. Given the frustration with the corruption scandal, the rising cost of living and efforts to thwart the opposition, voters wanted a change of leadership.
Social media overcomes barriers to vote
With 15 million eligible voters in Malaysia, voter turnout was 83 per cent, slightly lower than the last 2013 election when it was 85 per cent. The turnout was significant, especially given all the obstacles put up by the BN to discourage voting, in particular for overseas and rural voters. Some voters were turned away by election officials for wearing shorts and flip-flops, despite a no dress-code requirement from the EC.
Social media helped overcome barriers to vote. Like the last 2013 “social media election,” Facebook and Twitter were used to mobilize voters this election. WhatsApp and Facebook were aggressively used by both the BN government and the opposition to reach out to their voters. The platforms kept the voters informed.
About 2.7 million overseas Malaysians, around 1.8 per cent of the total 15 million-strong electorate, complained of being disenfranchised as they either had difficulties finding reasonably priced air fare to fly home to vote or received their ballots too late to return them in time to Malaysia.
Read more: Malaysia's Bersih 5 rally: protesters weigh the cost of action under a repressive regime
Airlines such as AirAsia and Malaysian Airlines, which waived flight change fees for the elections, were under pressure by the BN government not to do so.
To overcome the difficulties of voting, Malaysians turned to Twitter to boost voter turnout. Hastags such as #CarPoolGE14 and #PulangMengundi (return to vote) were used to help overseas voters who faced flight scheduling difficulties to return home to vote on election day.
The innovative carpooling app @CarPoolGE14 was used to help voters get to voting booths on time. Overseas Malaysians even worked together to ensure that their postal ballots made it to the voting booth on time.
Sweeping changes and turbulence ahead
Malaysian politics will be highly turbulent in the coming days. As Mahathir promised after taking office: “Some heads will roll … if anybody breaks the law, they’ll be brought before the court.”
Aside from ensuring a transfer of power, Mahatir’s promise to recover money from stolen funds amid the corruption scandal, to restore the rule of law and reverse controversial policies such as the goods and services tax, an anti-fake news law and China’s infrastructure investments will face bitter opposition from the old, monarchy-backed elites.
Malaysians have to hold onto their seats for a rocky ride ahead.


text:
Sound — 8
On first inspection, Babyshambles appear to be a bunch of talentless noisemakers. But, if you actually give the band a chance, you find that their music is full of meaning and life. A modern-day British life, that is. Previously, they have been portrayed as shambolic, but I'd rather compare them to the old guys who play the blues everynight. They all know what they have to do, and they'll get there in the end. It's the impulsive decisions to play something different and pull it off that makes them a great band. I'd say there are definate traces of original indie and Britrock influences in their unique sound, although diluted greatly by booze and the truth. I often think babyshambles are what the libertines could've been if Carl Barat would've pulled his head out of his ass.
Lyrics — 7
Pete Doherty is nothing short of a poet. His lyrics and rhyming structure are brilliant. Of course, not every track is amazing. But there is good reason for this. 'Pentonville', for example, was written in a week, whilst Doherty was in prison, writing with fellow miscreants. His lyrics give an insight into the life of a man who has been messed around in the past by bands and family alike. A man who had the oportunity to seize everything, and instead got everything he wanted. His lyrics act as a mirror into his dysfunctional life. Although it can be widely recognied that Doherty doesnt't sing as such, there's no doubting the passion and raw emotion his voice contains when spewing hard hitting, blissfully surreal lyrics, though at times, he seems a bit preoccupied.
Overall Impression — 8
Babyshambles first official release is a dirty, unclean version of the sort of music the libertines produced until Doherty was removed. It is quite hard to choose a favourite track, as most of the album has a sort of contemporary brilliance about it, but who can argue with 'Albion' or '8 Dead Boys'. I love the fact that Pete Doherty, after being removed from the Libertines for apparently taking drugs more seriously than he music, came back around to stick it to Carl Barat with an awe inspiring release.