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Little Richard, flamboyant rocker who fused gospel fervor and R&B sexuality, dies at 87

Little Richard, the flamboyant, piano-pounding showman who injected sheer abandon into rock ’n’ roll in its early days, only to abandon the music again and again because it conflicted with his religious yearnings, died Saturday. He was 87. Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of the singer, confirmed his death to the Associated Press. Minson said he also spoke to Little Richard’s son and brother. Minson added that the family is not releasing the cause of death. In hits such as “Tutti-Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” the singer pushed the limits of tempo and vocal intensity, creating frantic explosions of sonic confetti. His records entered a pure, primal realm that...





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**Correction**How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Affecting Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

A little over half of women across the globe are able to freely make choices about their sexual and reproductive health, according to a latest report based on data from 57 countries.  However, as much of the world has gone into lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, with countries implementing social distancing and restricting the […]

The post **Correction**How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Affecting Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health appeared first on Inter Press Service.




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A Gender-equal Ethiopian Parliament can Improve the Lives of all Women

In 1991, the share of seats held by women in the Ethiopian parliament was under 3 percent. Today it stands at 38 percent, almost twice the ratio of women in the United States Congress. Experts say when women are better represented in government office, the gains are likely to spill down and improve the lives of all women.

The post A Gender-equal Ethiopian Parliament can Improve the Lives of all Women appeared first on Inter Press Service.




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Ensuring Russia’s Sex Workers’ Rights Essential for Wider Gender Equality

Ensuring sex workers’ rights was essential, not just for the workers themselves, but for any country’s wider society, including public health

The post Ensuring Russia’s Sex Workers’ Rights Essential for Wider Gender Equality appeared first on Inter Press Service.




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World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) calls for input into IP policy on AI

One of the major challenges posed by the rapid growth in the use of AI is whether or not existing IP systems are adequate to deal with the ownership and exploitation of AI-assisted and AI-generated products, processes, works and designs, which is so...




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Education briefing - Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes report on its inquiry into racial harassment in Higher Education

Last December, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) launched an inquiry into racial harassment in Higher Education. On 23 October 2019 the EHRC published its report “Tackling racial harassment: universities challenged” under t...




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Education briefing – General Election 2019 – what are the parties saying about key issues for the sector on employment, equality, Brexit and immigration?

  With the General Election 2 weeks away the manifestos have been published. All of them - to varying degrees - containing promises on what the relevant party will do in the education sector if it is successful in the election. Full Article



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Education briefing - Publication of new EHRC technical guidance on sexual harassment and harassment

On 15 January 2020, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) published new and comprehensive technical guidance setting out the law and best practice on the prevention of workplace sexual harassment and harassment. The guidanc...




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Education briefing – OfS publishes consultation on harassment and sexual misconduct

The issue of harassment and sexual misconduct has been a high profile one now for some time with widespread local and national coverage across multiple sectors and jurisdictions. This has included copious discussion and analysis of the issue in the ...




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What is this place?: The visual simulacrum of South Africa in the Covid-19 lockdown

Why is the visual depiction of this country in centre-left international online news publications so unrecognisable?

The post What is this place?: The visual simulacrum of South Africa in the Covid-19 lockdown appeared first on The Mail & Guardian.




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Five teachers accused of sexually assaulting girl

Five teachers at a public school in Mukdahan have been suspended after being charged in connection with repeated sexual assaults against a 14-year-old girl. Two school alumni are also accused of having taken part, and all are said to have taken video of the acts.




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African countries could gradually ease measures to slow coronavirus

Wealthier African countries tend to impose more stringent rules, which have cost the continent $65 billion.




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Olympic speed skating champion guilty of sexual harassment

South Korean Olympic short-track speedskating gold medallist Lim Hyo-jun was convicted Thursday of sexually harassing a fellow male athlete by pulling down his trousers, a ...




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Fight sexual abuse against children

While releasing the Annual Crime Report for 2019 recently, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Martin Okoth Ochola, revealed that defilement still poses a big problem to the police.




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Rep. Omar Leads Letter Calling for Increased Transparency and Accountability for Civilian Casualties from AFRICOM

[U.S. House] Washington, DC -Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) led a letter to General Stephen J. Townsend today calling for increased transparency and public accountability of civilian causalities from the United States Defense Department's Africa Command (AFRICOM). The letter was signed by Rep. Adam Smith, Chair, House Committee on Armed Services; Rep. Adam Schiff, Chair, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Rep. Eliot Engel, Chair, House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. André Carson, Chair, Subcommittee on Counterterrori




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Initial AFRICOM Civilian Casualty Assessment Quarterly Report

[Africom] As part of the command's commitment to transparency, U.S. Africa Command is implementing a quarterly report on the status of ongoing and completed civilian casualty allegations and assessments. This initiative was directed by U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, to increase transparency regarding civilian casualty allegations that are reported to the command while demonstrating the U.S. military's constant commitment to minimizing collateral damage in the pursuit of




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Courts Service to increase number of virtual hearings

The Courts Service is to increase virtual hearings and extend the use of physical distancing in courtrooms to allow more cases to be dealt with in the coming weeks.




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Seniors with COVID-19 show unusual symptoms, doctors say


COVID-19 is typically signaled by three symptoms: fever, an insistent cough and shortness of breath.




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The glycemic index – A conceptual breakthrough in combating obesity


The following is intended to clarify how weight can be controlled when hunger is kept at bay using a reliable, informative tool called the glycemic index.




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Paris man suspected of spitting on influential Jewish intellectual


Spitting on people is illegal and violates France’s emergency measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.




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Iran: Amazing qualities of our new long-range ballistic missiles


The IRGC aerospace command takes credit for the achievement and says that it builds on legacies dating back to 1988.




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The True Source of Spiritual Life

People don’t always do the things they know they should. Whether it’s eating vegetables, paying bills promptly, or getting to bed on time, some people’s everyday actions defy what they know to be best. That’s often the same for believers with our Bibles. God’s people may recognize the importance of feeding on God’s Word even while we allow it to gather dust on the shelf.

That’s why the apostle Peter exhorts his readers: “Therefore, putting aside all malice and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:1–2).   

First Peter 2:1 begins with the word “Therefore,” linking the Apostle’s exhortation to the foundational reality that should fuel our hunger for God’s Word—Peter’s prior statements, specifically, verses 23–25 of chapter 1, where he writes,

You have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23–25)

Peter wants us to understand that it was the incorruptible, imperishable Word of God that has saved us and transform us into new creations.

To grasp the full weight of what Peter is saying, we need to remember our spiritual destitution prior to regeneration. We possessed unrepentant hearts that were “more deceitful than all else and . . . desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). In Romans 3, Paul uses quotes from the Old Testament to describe how comprehensive our depravity was: “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Romans 3:10–12). He sums up the corruption of that rebellious state: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18). Not only were we incapable of escaping our depravity, we were unwilling to do so. Before the Spirit did His illuminating work through the Word, we had no fear of the Lord or of the due penalty of our sins.

From that horrendous state, Peter says we “have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). Peter identifies this Word as the source of our spiritual transformation. Borrowing a metaphor from the life of Christ, Peter describes the Word as an imperishable seed. Just as Jesus explained to His disciples in Matthew 13, a faithful sower cast seed onto soil prepared by the Spirit, and the seed bore fruit (Matthew 13:3–23). Describing the Bible’s transforming power, James says, “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18). Referring to the saving work of the Word, John writes in his gospel, “These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). And in response to all that Scripture has already accomplished in our lives, Peter charges us to cultivate a hunger for it.

Why? Because the power of God’s Word does not fade, diminish, or wither (1 Peter 1:24). It is the source of both our transformation and our sanctification. It is our spiritual sustenance (Matthew 4:4). It gives us stability and security: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). Scripture is “the word of [God’s] grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). It is “the word of life” (Philippians 2:16). Regarding its power, the writer of Hebrews says, “The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s living Word, active and powerful, saves, sustains, and sanctifies His people.

Believers recognize the Word for what it is and for what it does in their lives. Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul said, “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Scripture was instrumental in our salvation, and it continues to perform God’s work in us. Moreover, we know it accomplishes God’s work without fail.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10–11)

If we want to experience God’s supernatural work in our lives, we must understand that the Holy Spirit accomplishes it only through His Word. He has ordained no other means, no momentary emotional or existential experience that can catapult us to some greater spiritual maturity. We cannot set aside our Bibles and expect His sanctifying work to continue uninterrupted. God saved us through the power of His Word, and its work is not finished. We must increase our hunger for His truth, knowing it is the sole source of our spiritual lives and the only means by which the Spirit conforms us into the image of His Son.

(Adapted from Final Word)




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Sperm containing coronavirus raises possibility of sexually transmitted Covid-19, Chinese study shows

Chinese researchers have found Covid-19 in the sperm of a small number of men, raising the possibility that the virus could be spread via sex.The study by physicians at China’s Shangqiu Municipal Hospital looked at only 38 men at the hospital who had tested positive with disease, and of that already small group found that a minority – only six – were found to have SARS-CoV-2 in their semen.Eyes are ‘important route’ for coronavirus into body, Hong Kong experts find“The virus responsible for…




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From Bruce Lee to L’Oreal, China is pumping up optimism for court cases against intellectual-property thieves

For years, Western companies have struggled to profit from a Chinese consumer market that thrives on cheap knock-offs of iconic brands. But that frustration is now turning into optimism, as local courts begin to stamp out thieves and cheats, lawyers say.More companies are filing intellectual property (IP) lawsuits amid a shift in attitude towards protecting original ideas, trademarks and patents, according to official data. The rush has accelerated after the phase-one trade deal in the US-China…




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Joe Biden sexual assault accuser Tara Reade calls on him to quit US presidential race

Former US Senate aide Tara Reade said on Thursday that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden should acknowledge her claim that he sexually assaulted her is true and quit the 2020 presidential race.“You and I were there, Joe Biden. Please step forward and be held accountable. You should not be running on character for the president of the United States,” Reade said during her first on-camera interview since Biden appeared on MSNBC last week and denied her accusation for the first…




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Singaporean women are using virtual reality to fight back against sexual harassment

“Wow, your shirt is really see-through. Are you wearing matching underwear?” the man says lewdly.It’s a virtual reality simulation – but it’s enough to shock 23-year-old Elizabeth Lee into silence as the scene plays out on her headset.The VR technology is part of the Girl, Talk project which is aimed at helping women fight back against harassment in Singapore.“I would think that I would respond in a more confrontational way,” Lee admits. “It felt very physically close … it was just really…




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Parents are getting raw deal in virtual learning proposals

Virtual learning will leave out a significant proportion of learners.




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Disqualified Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Siu-lai was denied chance to respond to allegations of not upholding Basic Law, judge says

Disqualified lawmaker Lau Siu-lai was denied the opportunity to respond to allegations of not genuinely upholding Hong Kong’s mini-constitution before she was barred from trying to win back her seat in the Legislative Council, a judge has observed.Mr Justice Anderson Chow Ka-ming made the remark on Thursday while hearing an election petition from Lau, who has asked the High Court to determine whether pro-establishment lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan had been duly elected to the office of Kowloon West…




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South China Morning Post annual student awards to focus on pupils’ commitment to bringing people together

The commitment of students in bringing people together will be the focus of the 39th annual Student of the Year Awards organised by the South China Morning Post.With the theme “Leading for a better society”, two new awards this year include a special prize for the most nurturing environment, which will go to a school and its students, and another for mentorship.A total of 11 awards in nine categories, including science, maths, languages, sports, and visual and performing arts, will be presented…




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Hong Kong man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting his daughter since she was 6

A Hong Kong man has admitted in court to raping his nine-year-old daughter and telling his younger son that it was none of his business when the child caught him in the act.The High Court heard the sexual attacks spanned nearly six years, since 2011, when the casual vegetable seller, who could not be identified for legal reasons, first attempted to rape his daughter after school.At the time she was only six, while he was 40.Acting deputy director of public prosecutions Catherine Ko said the…




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China vows equal treatment for Africans after McDonald's apology

McDonald's said it had closed a restaurant in Guangzhou for diversity and inclusion training after an investigation confirmed social media reports it was barring "black people".




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IIUI rector faces controversy of receiving dual salary

ISLAMABAD: Rector International Islamic University Islamabad Dr Masoom Yasinzai is in the middle of a controversy for allegedly receiving dual salary without the notice and prior approval of Board of...

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IIUI rector faces controversy of receiving dual salary

ISLAMABAD: Rector International Islamic University Islamabad Dr Masoom Yasinzai is in the middle of a controversy for allegedly receiving dual salary without the notice and prior approval of Board of Governors , Board of Trustees ."I received an honoraria for giving consultancy to a Saudi...




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Quality development projects, guaranteed -- by Donald Lambert

Guarantees are one of government’s most powerful financing tools for mobilizing private sector participation in development projects.




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Inside the camps in Cox’s Bazar, lives are gradually being rebuilt -- by Manmohan Parkash

At Camp No 5, in Cox's Bazar, there are about 632,000 displaced people still living in terrible conditions. But an international humanitarian effort is helping people in the community in southern Bangladesh live a better life. 




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The surprising link between trade finance and gender equality -- by Steven Beck

To level the playing field in Asia and the Pacific, women-owned companies need financial backing to support their importing and exporting needs.




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Health care must be affordable and accessible, but also high quality -- by Valerie Shelly, Susann Roth, Kirthi Ramesh

Universal health coverage must be high quality to improve patients’ health outcomes




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Dual threat in the Pacific: COVID-19 and natural hazards -- by Anupma Jain

The pandemic demonstrates that disasters are triggered by multidimensional risks and hazards, and that a country’s approach to urban resilience needs to be multifaceted.




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Bangtan Boys to Join Obamas in YouTube Virtual Commencement Event

K-pop boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, will give speeches during a virtual commencement event along with global figures including former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, and pop star Lady Gaga. "Dear Class of 2020," organized by YouTube, will be streamed on June 6 to celeb...




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Microchip Announces Industry’s First Space-Qualified COTS-Based Radiation-Tolerant Ethernet Transceiver and Embedded Microcontroller

Microchip Announces Industry’s First Space-Qualified COTS-Based Radiation-Tolerant Ethernet Transceiver and Embedded Microcontroller




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ADB Releases Annual Report of Development Effectiveness

ADB has released the 13th annual performance report of its corporate results framework, the Development Effectiveness Review, a management tool that monitors performance and progress during 2019.




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53rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank

The Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors is an opportunity to provide guidance on ADB administrative, financial, and operational directions. The meetings provide opportunities for member governments to interact with ADB staff, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), media, and representatives of observer countries, international organizations, academe and the private sector. ADB’s annual meetings have become a premier forum for the discussion of economic and social development issues in Asia and the Pacific.




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Visualizing Square Roots with Elias Wegert

Quick, what’s the square root of -1? Okay, I know. That’s an easy one. But how about the square root of i? If it’s been a while since you took complex analysis, you might have to scratch your head a little bit. Fortunately, MATLAB can just tell us. ... read more >>




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ADB Releases Annual Report of Development Effectiveness

ADB has released the 13th annual performance report of its corporate results framework, the Development Effectiveness Review, a management tool that monitors performance and progress during 2019.




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2020 Annual Evaluation Review: ADB’s Project Level Self-Evaluation System

The Annual Evaluation Review (AER) is the flagship report of the Independent Evaluation Department (IED) on the operational performance and results of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This is an important year for the AER as it marks the first full year of Strategy 2030’s implementation. The AER provides a synthesis of the evaluations prepared by IED in the preceding year, updates performance trends, and draws lessons and offers recommendations to guide ongoing and future operations.




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Water Financing Partnership Facility Annual Work Program 2020

This Annual Work Program for 2020 presents the priorities and activities for the Water Financing Partnership Facility (WFPF or the Facility), as administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).




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Water Financing Partnership Facility Annual Report 2019

This report covers the period January to December 2019 and presents the performance for the year against the annual work program and the cumulative performance to date.




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Urban Financing Partnership Facility Annual Report: January to December 2019

By end of 2019, the Urban Financing Partnership Facility (UFPF) assistance has led to a total of 152 completed projects, comprised of investment grants, technical assistance, direct charge activities, and project preparation studies.




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Building the Future of Quality Infrastructure

This video introduces the book "Building the Future of Quality Infrastructure".