Video: High winds a concern along with snow, rain
After 8 p.m., the snow should start to fade away and the storm system should move out by midnight.
Barry Sanders knows what it's like to leave the Lions with gas in the tank.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored the go-ahead goal at 4:56 of the third period, and the Toronto Six held on to edge the Boston Pride 2-1 on Tuesday in National Women's Hockey League action. It's the first victory in franchise history for the expansion team. Toronto (1-1-1) trailed 1-0 heading into the third before Brooke Boquist tied the game 3:31 into the period with a power-play goal Christina Putigna opened the scoring at 11:59 of the first while on a Pride (1-2-0) power play. Elaine Chuli made 24 saves for the Six, while Boston's Lovisa Selander stopped 36-of-38 shots. The NWHL went full bubble hockey Saturday in a quarantined environment in Lake Placid, New York. Each of the six teams are set to plays five games in eight days followed by the playoffs, with the semifinals and final airing on NBCSN. The semifinals are Feb. 4 and championship game is Feb. 5. The NWHL didn't crown a 2020 Isobel Cup champion in its fifth season because of the pandemic. The majority of the Six roster is Canadian NCAA Division 1 alumni with some who also played in the defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League. This report by The Canadian Press was first published January 26, 2021. The Canadian Press
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — South Korea has reported 599 new coronavirus cases, the highest in 10 days, as health workers scramble to slow infections at religious facilities, which have been a major source throughout the pandemic. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 112 of the new cases came from the southwestern city of Gwangju, where more than 100 have so far been linked to a missionary training school. An affiliated facility in the central city of Daejeon has been linked to more than 170 infections. The Seoul metropolitan area reported nearly 300 cases. South Korea has repeatedly seen big clusters emerge from religious groups, including more than 5,000 linked to the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus that drove a major outbreak last spring. The figures released by the agency on Wednesday brought the national caseload to 76,429, including 1,378 deaths. Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region: — Health officials in New Zealand say all the close contacts of a woman who caught the coronavirus apparently in the community have tested negative, as fears of an outbreak ease. The woman became infected from another traveller just before leaving quarantine after returning from Europe. Several people have positive in quarantine. Meanwhile, officials have begun outlining plans for the nation’s vaccination program, which they hope will get underway in earnest by midyear. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said they aim to vaccinate at least 70% of the population. He said a recent survey showed about 70% of people would embrace getting inoculated, 20% would be hesitant and up to 10% would be opposed. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this week that the nation’s borders could remain closed for the rest of the year. Officials acknowledge that New Zealand’s success in eliminating the community spread of the virus means it may need to wait longer than some countries to get vaccines. — Indonesian President Joko Widodo received the second dose of the Chinese coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, two weeks after the first injection. Indonesia has given priority to health workers and public officers after authorizing the emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine. Several top military, police and health officials also received their second shots at the Presidential Palace, as well as a celebrity who is a social media influencer. The Health Ministry data showed about 245,685 people have been vaccinated so far, most of them health workers. On Tuesday, Indonesia's confirmed cases surpassed 1 million with 28,46 deaths. ___ Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The Associated Press
The Capitol Police force’s chief obtained budget increases to fund the equipment and manpower to defend lawmakers, their family and staff. Where was it?
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to announce a wide-ranging moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands and waters, as his administration moves quickly to reverse Trump administration policies on energy and the environment and address climate change. Two people with knowledge of Biden’s plans outlined the proposed moratorium, which will be announced Wednesday. They asked not to be identified because the plan has not been made been public; some details remain in flux. The move follows a 60-day suspension of new drilling permits for U.S. lands and waters announced last week and follows Biden’s campaign pledge to halt new drilling on federally controlled land and water as part of his plan to address climate change. The moratorium is intended to allow time for officials to review the impact of oil and gas drilling on the environment and climate. Environmental groups hailed the expected moratorium as the kind of bold, urgent action needed to slow climate change. “The fossil fuel industry has inflicted tremendous damage on the planet. The administration’s review, if done correctly, will show that filthy fracking and drilling must end for good, everywhere,'' said Kierán Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that has pushed for the drilling pause. Oil industry groups slammed the move, saying Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. "This is just the start. It will get worse,'' said Brook Simmons, president of the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma. "Meanwhile, the laws of physics, chemistry and supply and demand remain in effect. Oil and natural gas prices are going up, and so will home heating bills, consumer prices and fuel costs.'' Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, which represents oil and gas drillers in Western states, said the expected executive order is intended to delay drilling on federal lands to the point where it is no longer viable. Her group pledged to challenge the order in court. "The environmental left is leading the agenda at the White House when it comes to energy and environment issues,'' she said, noting that the moratorium would be felt most acutely in Western states such as Utah, Wyoming and North Dakota. Biden lost all three states to former President Donald Trump. The drilling moratorium is among several climate-related actions Biden will announce Wednesday. He also is likely to direct officials to conserve 30% of the country’s lands and ocean waters in the next 10 years, initiate a series of regulatory actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and issue a memorandum that elevates climate change to a national security priority. He also is expected to establish a White House office on environmental justice to serve low-income and minority communities that suffer disproportionately from air and water pollution and industrial waste and are often located near hazardous sites such as power plants, landfills and incinerators. Biden also will direct all U.S. agencies to use science and evidence-based decision-making in federal rule-making and announce a U.S.-hosted climate leaders summit on Earth Day, April 22. The conservation plan would set aside millions of acres for recreation, wildlife and climate efforts by 2030, part of Biden’s campaign pledge for a $2 trillion program to slow global warming. Under Trump, federal agencies prioritized energy development and eased environmental rules to speed up drilling permits as part of the Republican’s goal to boost fossil fuel production. Trump consistently downplayed the dangers of climate change, which Biden, a Democrat, has made a top priority. On his first day in office last Wednesday, Biden signed a series of executive orders that underscored his different approach — rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, revoking approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada and telling agencies to immediately review dozens of Trump-era rules on science, the environment and public health. A 60-day suspension order at the Interior Department did not limit existing oil and gas operations under valid leases, meaning activity would not come to a sudden halt on the millions of acres of lands in the West and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico where much drilling is concentrated. The moratorium also is unlikely to affect existing leases. Its effect could be further blunted by companies that stockpiled enough drilling permits in Trump’s final months to allow them to keep pumping oil and gas for years. The pause in onshore drilling is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states. Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters account for about a quarter of annual U.S. production. Extracting and burning those fuels generates the equivalent of almost 550 million tons (500 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases annually, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a 2018 study. Under Trump, Interior officials approved almost 1,400 permits on federal lands, primarily in Wyoming and New Mexico, over a three-month period that included the election, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. Those permits, which remain valid, will allow companies to continue drilling for years, potentially undercutting Biden’s climate agenda. The leasing moratorium could present a political dilemma for Biden in New Mexico, a Democratic-leaning state that has experienced a boom in oil production in recent years, much of it on federal land. Biden's choice to lead the Interior Department, which oversees oil and gas leasing on public lands, is New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland. If confirmed, she would be the first Native American to lead the agency that oversees relations with nearly 600 federally-recognized tribes. Haaland, whose confirmation hearing has been delayed until next month, already faces backlash from some Republicans who say expected cutbacks in oil production under Biden would hurt her home state. Tiernan Sittenfeld, a top official with the League of Conservation Voters, called that criticism off-base. “The reality is we need to transition to 100% clean energy” in order to address climate change, she said Tuesday. "The clean energy economy in New Mexico is thriving,'' Sittenfeld added, citing gains in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Rob Black, president of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, said the expected moratorium would be “devastating” to his state, while failing to reduce carbon emissions in the Southwest. A leasing moratorium “won’t reduce demand for oil,? Black said, but would merely move production from federal lands to private lands in New Mexico and Texas, where an oil boom is occurring in the Permian Basin. Only 2% of land in Texas is federally controlled, compared with about one-third in New Mexico. The Biden administration has pledged to spend billions to assist in the transition away from fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, and Biden has said creating thousands of clean-energy jobs is a top priority. Matthew Daly, The Associated Press
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining our fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 combined earnings conference call for NextEra Energy and NextEra Energy Partners. With me this morning are Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy; Rebecca Kujawa, executive vice president and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy; John Ketchum, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Resources; and Mark Hickson, executive vice president of NextEra Energy, all of whom are also officers of NextEra Energy Partners; as well as Eric Silagy, president and chief executive officer of Florida Power & Light Company.
Sam Corlett, Frida Gustavsson, Leo Suter, Bradley Freegard, and a slew of other actors will star in Netflix's upcoming historical action series.
W. R. Berkley Corporation is not under any obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. On the call, in addition to me, you also have Bill Berkley, Executive Chairman; as well as Rich Baio, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
It expertly heals blemishes while providing full coverage.
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. proposes to merge its two group companies in India, Toyoda Gosei Minda India Pvt. Ltd. (TGMIN) and Minda TG Rubber Pvt. Ltd. (MTG), to improve management efficiency in the Indian market, an area of focus in Toyoda Gosei’s medium-term 2025 Business Plan.
StrictionD Supplement Reviews: Does Rob Walker’s StrictionD supplement really help? Find out StrictionD supplement side effects, ingredients, benefits, gnc, price, customer experience and where to buy StrictionD Advanced Formula – StrictionD Reviews Updated [2021] by Nuvectramedical StrictionD Supplement Reviews: Does Rob Walker’s StrictionD supplement really help? Find out StrictionD supplement side effects, ingredients, benefits, gnc, price, customer experience and where to buy Chicago, IL, Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It's Time to Eradicate Diabetes Once and For All Diseases are very common and almost unavoidable as we all are humans and our system is used to getting repaired and then getting back to being healthy once again. This is like a cycle that we all are aware of. But there is this one disease that can take control of your body and curb your health and happiness together. It is none other than diabetes. As soon as reading this name some people must have already felt related to this situation. >> Click to visit the StrictionD Supplement Official Website Diabetes can leave you with no other options than to restrict yourself and live your life inside a box. Being a diabetic is more like being a prisoner who doesn't know when he will be set free. People wrongly fix their minds to prohibit the intake of a healthy diet from their routine life considering it to be boring. They feel lazy to prepare and eat healthy food. Do you know how people are damaging their health by eating chemically processed foods, junk foods and toxic foods? These foods are collapsing with the functions of all the organs and making them feel sick, providing additional side effects and finally pushing them towards the edge of life. Day by day the worst illnesses show up and make it difficult for you to live a healthy normal life. Why should you give a chance to that? Just make a few simple changes in your regular life and fix your routine by having the necessary nutrients, vitamins, minerals and other components in it. Now you are here to read this review thoroughly to know about one of the leading silent killer issues and how it can be controlled using this proven solution StrictionD within a few days. What Do You Know About StrictionD? Blood sugar plays a significant role in affecting your overall health. Rob Walker and team introduces the clinically proven dietary supplement StrictionD to help people who are suffering from blood sugar and related health issues. StrictionD is a dietary supplement that includes a few groundbreaking ingredients to take control of the blood sugar level and there won't be any need to use other harmful drugs henceforth in your life. The effect of using a StrictionD supplement will maximize the function of the pancreas for having better insulin secretion and for balancing the blood glucose level in your body rapidly. StrictionD is the right time to protect your body from some of the worst health conditions that might complicate your health. You can experience a faster result by making some changes in your diet plan and do some simple exercises to extend your lifespan. You can quickly identify the root cause of diabetes and fix it back by using three simple tricks, including a well-known superfood. >> Click to Know More About StrictionD Supplement How Does It Work For Everyone? Take control of your increased blood sugar using the StrictionD that is more effective when compared to other dietary supplements because it includes all the clinically proven natural ingredients with active components. By choosing this product; you will get the great offer of 3 proven tricks to keep your blood sugar level under a balance naturally. StrictionD boosts the insulin sensitivity, reduces or controls the blood sugar level, maintains cholesterol level and reduces the risk of heart disease simultaneously. StrictionD works effectively to avoid the painful complications and diseases which are linked with blood sugar, like blood pressure, obesity, vision loss, kidney failure, memory loss, cancer and more. StrictionD supplement recommends you to use three simple reversing tricks to treat the symptoms and the underlying cause of diabetes by making some changes in the food intake. StrictionD supplement includes a very special and specific form of Ceylon Cinnamon to remove the toxic content from the pancreas and liver and to lower the blood sugar level and balance it in the right way and also to improve cardiovascular health. While using this product, StrictionD suggests you to avoid cooking or making a salad dressing using cottonseed oil or corn oil or soybean oil. Because these oils contain more omega-6s that leads to insulin resistance, inflammation and diabetes. StrictionD also suggests you avoid all the packaged and processed food. Eating a healthy combination of food for your diet in a certain limit will allow you to keep the blood sugar under control by boosting the blood glucose metabolism rapidly. What Will You Get From This Dietary Product? Ceylon Cinnamon: It acts as a powerful superfood with unique bioactive properties to quickly boost insulin sensitivity, reduce or control blood sugar level and decrease cholesterol level. It contains Type A Polyphenols to boost insulin sensitivity which allows your body cells to absorb and use the glucose by blocking enzymes called tyrosine phosphatase, which induces insulin incompatibility. GlucoHelp: It is a high standard and natural extract of banana leaf originating in Southeast Asia, and is being used as a medicinal plant to lower the fasting glucose and post-prandial blood-glucose levels rapidly. It almost reduces blood glucose by up to 30% in just two weeks. Chrominex 3+: It is the most effective form of chromium that relieves arthritis pain and inflammation from your body thoroughly. It honestly supports you to have a healthy endothelial function and cholesterol level while boosting insulin sensitivity. With the effect of adding this special superfood and two powerhouse nutrients, you can quickly control the blood sugar level naturally and experience the desired result in overall health. StrictionD will deliver the best nutritional support to your body to heal the damaged pancreas and liver. StrictionD also boosts blood glucose metabolism to reverse diabetes and blood sugar overnight. Watch Now by Clicking Here: Critical Report About This Supplement Released! What Do You Get from Using StrictionD? StrictionD supplement is entirely natural and thus you do not have to worry about getting affected by various side effects. Be it high diabetes, pre-diabetes or if you are in a family of huge diabetes history, this supplement can make sure that you are no longer going to be a victim of diabetes. Unlike other supplements, StrictionD makes use of a very simply available natural ingredient named cinnamon to lower your blood sugar and thus keeps you healthy in the long run. Pros: StrictionD No longer be a silent sufferer of diabetes. Regulates your blood pressure. Reduces both your systolic and diastolic pressure. Treats type 2 diabetes effectively. 100% natural and thus no side effects. Provides great antioxidant support. Some of the downsides are, Cons: StrictionD You can purchase this supplement only on its official website.The results may vary for individuals. Before taking any supplement, you need to consult your doctor. Who should not use StrictionD? If you are under 18 or pregnant, you better avoid taking dietary supplements generally! It is always a good idea to consult your doctor before taking any supplement. FDA and Supplements: The FDA will never approve a dietary supplement. According to the Food and Drug Administration, dietary supplements are a category of their own, and they are not subject to FDA regulation or approval. If a company is claiming that the FDA approves their diet supplement, run. This is a clear misrepresentation. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Conclusion Getting rid of diabetes can be a very difficult task. But not anymore. StrictionD is here to treat your diabetes and maintain your blood sugar and ensure that it never exceeds the healthy level. StrictionD can be helpful for both men and women who are either diabetic or pre-diabetic. No more going behind those utterly useless prescribed medicines that are of no use. Get this StrictionD supplement now and say goodbye to diabetes forever and that too naturally. (HUGE SAVINGS TODAY) Click Here to Buy StrictionD Supplement for The Lowest Price Online Media Contact: US Address: 1608 S. Ashland Ave. Suite 73005 Chicago, IL. 60608 USA Email Us at Support@Optimal-Health.com Telephone: 1-844-248-3717 This product review is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy. Any purchase made from this story is made at your own risk. Consult an expert advisor/health professional before any such purchase. Any purchase made from this link is subject to the final terms and conditions of the website selling the product. The content on this release does not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. Contact Nuvectramedical at vijai@nuvectramedical.com This news has been published for the above source. 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Tradeweb Markets Inc. (Nasdaq:TW), a leading, global operator of electronic marketplaces for rates, credit, equities and money markets, today announced the appointment of James Sun as Managing Director, Head of Asia.
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui is in prison in India and has been refused bail. But why?
TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE American: TRXC) ("TransEnterix" or the "Company"), a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to improve minimally invasive surgery, today announced that, due to demand, the underwriter has agreed to increase the size of the previously announced offering and purchase on a firm commitment basis 23,083,333 shares of common stock of the Company at a public offering price of $3.00 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The Company also has granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,462,499 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is expected to close on or about January 29, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
After killing off a five-minute penalty in the third period against an opponent that had gone to overtime the last four games, the New York Islanders thought they'd also get there against the Washington Capitals and pick up at least a point. Finishing the game without centers Nicklas Backstrom and Lars Eller and missing five other prominent players, Washington matched a franchise best with points in the first seven games of the season.
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DECEMBER QUARTER 2020 KEY HIGHLIGHTS1 Olaroz Lithium Facility (Olaroz) operations returned to being Gross Cash Margin positive with record sales volume during the quarter while costs declined to near all-time lows. Quarterly production volumes were the third highest since operations commenced. Low costs and strong, stable production mean the business is well positioned to participate in the improving lithium market. Operations continued under the established Bio-Security Protocol with limits on the number of personnel on site for both production and expansion works. OLAROZ LITHIUM FACILITY (ORE 66.5%)2 Activities continue to focus on the health and well-being of our staff, contractors and communities while maintaining production and expansion worksOlaroz operations stopped for two days during October while successfully responding to a COVID-19 outbreak amongst 35 employeesProduction of 3,727 tonnes was up 58% quarter on quarter (QoQ), responding to increased demand and reflecting on-going plant stability and improved operating practicesSales volume was up 28% QoQ to a new record of 4,345 tonnes, while sales revenue was up 57% QoQ to US$16.5 million. The realised average price achieved was US$3,797/tonne on a free on board basis (FOB)3, up 22% QoQ. Sales volumes were 34% battery grade lithium carbonate and the remainder primary grade lithium carbonateCash costs (on a cost of goods sold basis)4 were US$3,623/tonne, down 9% QoQ excluding the export tax of US$85/tonne. All additional costs incurred as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and US$360,000 of non-recurring COVID-19 related wage subsidies from the Argentina government are included. Excluding the subsidies, the cost of sales remains the lowest level for more than three yearsGross cash margin was positive at US$174/t, an improvement of US$1,046/t on the September quarter with better pricing and lower costsFollowing the signature of an MOU in September, discussions with Prime Planet Energy and Solutions (PPES), an automotive battery cell manufacturing joint venture between Toyota (51%) and Panasonic (49%) are continuing for the supply of 30,000 tonne per annum (ktpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by CY25Lithium prices and volumes continue to recover and realised H2 FY21 prices are expected to increase >50% to approximately US$5,500/tonne (FOB) LITHIUM GROWTH PROJECTS Construction work on Stage 2 continued to be impacted during the quarter by COVID-19 restrictions. Construction has progressed to approximately 50% completion. Additional accommodation has been constructed for expansion personnel so that appropriate social distancing can be maintained as the workforce increases throughout 2021. Following a further review, Stage 2 is expected to commence production in H2 CY22, ramping up over two years to full capacity of 25,000 tonnes per annum of primary grade lithium carbonate by H2 CY24Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant construction has continued throughout the period with activities now approximately 89% completeA scoping study into a further expansion at Olaroz (Stage 3) will commence during the March quarter. The study will investigate options for additional production of 25-50ktpa from Olaroz, Cauchari or a combination of both, leveraging existing Stage 2 and 3 infrastructureInitial discussions have taken place with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) regarding an expansion of lithium hydroxide production as Naraha Stage 1 will be fully contracted based on ongoing negotiations with potential customers BORAX ARGENTINA Overall sales volume for the December quarter was 10,573 tonnes, up 18% QoQ and up 23% on the previous corresponding period (PCP)Sales revenue was up 14% QoQ due to increased volume, however the average price received was down 3% QoQ due to the sales mix CORPORATE During the quarter Orocobre completed a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) which raised funds of US$30.3 million following a placement in the September quarter. Total funds raised were approximately A$169 million before feesAs at 31 December 2020, Orocobre corporate had available cash of ~US$246.8 million of which US$11.1 million and US$59.6 million have been set aside as pre-completion guarantees for the Naraha debt facility and Olaroz Expansion debt facility respectivelyIncluding SDJ, Borax and Naraha cash and project debt, net group cash at 31 December 2020 was US$119.8 million, up from US$102.6 million at 30 September 2020 OLAROZ LITHIUM FACILITY Click here for more information on Olaroz COVID-19 As announced to the ASX on 26 October, COVID-19 infection was identified for the first time at our operations in 35 employees. In accordance with the Bio-Security Protocol, isolation procedures and contract tracing were conducted. Affected staff were relocated to Jujuy for medical treatment as required and have since recovered and returned to work. Operations were suspended for two days to allow cleaning and rotation of staff. Daily monitoring of workforce health continues throughout 14-21 day rosters that apply to all personnel and include those employees who would normally reside in local communities. Since July 2020, the Company medical service has performed more than 5,200 COVID-19 tests (Serological and PCR). SAFETY Health and safety remains a key priority for the Company. No Lost Time Injuries (LTI) were recorded at Olaroz during the first two quarters of FY21. As at 31st December the operations recorded 342 days without an LTI. The Intelex database for HSE and Quality events management was officially launched during the December quarter. At this stage the system is used extensively by mid-line supervisors and managers. Intelex serves as an event management system following a workflow that allows the team to report, check, classify, investigate, develop corrective and preventive action plans. During the remainder of the year Olaroz will complete the transition from the current system (SMC) to Intelex. Lagging and key leading indicators have been defined to measure and improve safety and environmental performance and are now tracked through the Intelex database. The Dupont programs continue to enhance our safety culture and remain a key priority even during the current COVID-19 situation. OPERATIONAL UPDATE QUALITY Plant stability and reliability remains very good with improved process capability (CpK). The process capability index or process capability ratio is a statistical measure of process capability which is the ability of a process to produce output within specification limits. Brine feed concentration to the plant also continues to improve year on year with December quarter concentrations over 8,000ppm reflecting some seasonal variation, additional pond capacity and strong underlying improvement in pond management practices. Product quality continues to improve with reduced magnetic particles and increased product consistency. PRODUCTION Production for the December quarter was third highest achieved by Olaroz at 3,727 tonnes up 4% from 3,586 tonnes in the PCP. Brine concentration remains at higher levels than in recent years resulting in high daily production rates, higher plant recovery and further decreases in costs, even when COVID-19 related costs are included. Production of battery grade lithium carbonate was 34% of total production, up from 22% in the September quarter. SALES AND COMMERCIAL Product sales were a record at 4,345 tonnes of lithium carbonate up 32% on PCP and 28% QoQ. The average price received was US$3,797/tonne on an FOB basis up 22% QoQ but down 29% PCP5 due to weaker pricing relative to a year ago. Some sales reflect contracts that were agreed in August, September and October reflecting lower prices that were current at the time. Contracts from later in the December quarter and into 2021 are being completed at higher prices. Total sales revenue was up 57% QoQ to US$16.5 million but down 6% PCP. Lithium prices and volumes continue to recover and realised H2 FY21 prices are expected to be up >50% to approximately US$5,500/tonne (FOB). PPES MOU During the September quarter Orocobre entered into a non-binding MOU with PPES, a joint venture between Toyota (51%) and Panasonic (49%) specialising in the production of automotive battery cells, for the long-term supply of product culminating in 30kt of LCE in CY25. Discussions are continuing to finalise this agreement. COSTS/MARGINS Cash cost of goods sold for the quarter (including COVID-19 related costs and US$360,000 of COVID-19 wage subsidies from the Argentina government) reduced by 15% PCP to near all-time lows at US$3,623/tonne. This excludes export duties for the quarter of US$85/tonne. Gross cash margins for the quarter returned to being positive at US$174/tonne, this is expected to improve with better pricing in H2 FY21. MetricDecquarter 2020Septquarter 2020Change QoQ (%)PCP(Dec qtr 2019)Change PCP (%)Production (tonnes)3727235258%3,5864%Sales (tonnes)4345339328%3,28732%Average price received (US$/tonne) 33797310222%5,335-29%Cost of sales (US$/tonne)436233974-9%4,266-15%Revenue (US$M)16.51157%18-6%Gross cash margin (US$/tonne)174-872120%1,069-84%Gross cash margin (%)5%-28%116%20%-77%Export tax (US$/tonne)857021%238-64% Total cost of sales has continued to decrease and is materially lower than the previous corresponding period demonstrating the significant focus and reduction of fixed costs within the operating business. STAGE 2 EXPANSION AT OLAROZ PROGRESS TO DATE Work during the December quarter has continued with a reduced workforce adhering to COVID-19 restrictions. As at 31 December, 2020 construction work has achieved approximately 50% completion. Key areas of development are brine extraction wells and gathering systems, lime plant, collection ponds and carbonation/soda ash plants. Capital expenditure to the end of the quarter is approximately US$172 million, excluding VAT and working capital. All of the steel structure for the carbonation and soda ash plants has now arrived at site including cladding, roofing and overhead cranes. The construction contract for the carbonation plant has been awarded and works are expected to commence in mid-February once the remaining terms of the contract are finalised. Expansion of the construction camp is well underway which will allow the workforce to grow as required by the current schedule. Original plans for expansion workforce accommodation envisaged two or more people per room, however with social distancing requirements limiting accommodation to one person per room additional rooms are now being installed. Following a further review and planning around COVID-19 restrictions, Stage 2 is expected to commence production in H2 CY22 and ramp up over two years to full capacity of 25ktpa of primary grade lithium carbonate by H2 CY24. NARAHA LITHIUM HYDROXIDE PLANT PROGRESS TO DATE The Naraha Plant, the first of its kind to be built in Japan, is designed to convert primary grade lithium carbonate feedstock into purified battery grade lithium hydroxide. Feedstock for the 10,000 tonne per annum (tpa) Naraha Plant will be sourced from the Olaroz Lithium Facility’s Stage 2 Expansion that will produce primary grade (>99.0% Li2CO3) lithium carbonate. Since construction commenced at the Naraha Plant there have been no LTIs recorded. As at 31 December, approximately US$50 million has been spent on engineering, civil works, electrical, instrumentation, fabrication and procurement at the Naraha Plant. Site operations have continued throughout the period with construction now approximately 89% complete, and commissioning expected in H2 CY21. FURTHER GROWTH PROJECTS Upon completion of PPES and other customer agreements in the next several months, both Olaroz Stage 2 and Naraha Stage 1 are expected to be fully contracted. In order to maintain the targeted 5-10% global market share beyond 2025, Orocobre is investigating additional production of both lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. Olaroz Stage 3 A scoping study into a further expansion at Olaroz (Stage 3) will commence during the March quarter. The study will investigate options for additional 25-50ktpa of lithium carbonate production. The study will consider technical, financial and commercial options for further production including from the 100% Orocobre owned Cauchari resource. Stage 3 at Olaroz will be a high value growth option that will benefit from capital and operating cost synergies with Stages 1 and 2. As a brownfield development it will have low technology and resource risk with a well understood processing route for the Olaroz/Cauchari brine. Access to key existing infrastructure such as the national highway, a dedicated gas pipeline and renewable energy will underpin financial and sustainability metrics and returns. Stage 3 is a unique growth option that will be well timed to meet growing demand for lithium based batteries. Naraha 2 Initial discussions with TTC have confirmed the intention to expand lithium hydroxide production. The next step will be to consider the potential scale of additional production and whether that is located at Naraha or another site that better suits customer needs, or provides scope for potential further stages as may be required to match growth by PPES and other customers. SHARED VALUE PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY The Shared Value team built on their knowledge of local communities and sustainability with a combination of remote work and a number of visits to communities that are directly and indirectly influenced by the company’s operations. Key actions during the quarter included: Community Relations Management of work rosters within COVID-19 limitations: Communication with Community Coordinators, local government contacts and local suppliers to manage and confirm the date and location of PCR sample collection (COVID-19 tests) and the transfer schedules for rostered employeesIdentification of risks and opportunities for the social development of communities within the COVID-19 environment. COVID-19 has presented new challenges for the optimal management of interaction and implementation of programs within local communitiesOngoing management of community relations and engagement with community members and leaders responding to any concerns and facilitating cooperationField work: visits were made to the communities of Susques, Huancar, Pastos Chicos, Coranzuli and Olaroz ChicoThe team participated in the first meeting for 2020 of the Council on Indigenous Participation. This Council brings together the ten communities of the People of Atacama. Discussions focused on local labour, prioritization of local suppliers at the Olaroz Lithium Facility and participation of local suppliers in the Olaroz Stage 2 Expansion Community development programs Program to Support Food Independence: Family Food Production Units UPAFA program to encourage independent food supply in local communities continued during the quarter. Support visits to four vegetable gardens in Coranzuli were conducted with a focus on production records, transplanting of seedlings and optimisation of irrigation. Materials for greenhouse enclosures, hand tools and spring/summer seeds were delivered to the communities of Huancar and Pastos Chicos. A training session on UPAF was held in Olaroz Chico. Sustainable Management of Vicuñas at Olaroz ChicoParticipants in the Vicuna management program at Olaroz Chico were supported in the development of a conservation and management plan. Family Farming program technicians from the National Institute of Technology (Jujuy) were provided training in the natural and cultural heritage of local communities. Community Investment Program Construction of community halls in Susques and El Toro were completed during the quarter. Planning and design is underway for a further community hall in Coranzuli with construction to commence in the first quarter of 2021. MARKET The lithium market continued on a path of recovery during the December quarter, confirming a bottom had been reached in the preceding months. The Chinese lithium carbonate market demonstrated particular strength with spot prices rising ~50% between September 2020 and December 2020 as domestic supply became increasingly tight as demand from the electric vehicle (EV) sector accelerated. DEMAND Underlying fundamentals for electric vehicles continue to improve with an increasing number of commitments to EVs by national governments such as those announced by the United Kingdom in late 2020 which will ban petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2030. The success of government mandated EV initiatives can be seen in the Norwegian market with EVs accounting for ~80% of new car sales in October 2020. All new car sales in Norway are expected to be EVs by 2025. There are multiple other growth catalysts that are driving lithium demand including a change of government in the US and proposed US$2 trillion renewables stimulus, European carbon emissions penalties on automakers, and the growing range and affordability of popular EV brands in China. Chinese EV demand continued to outperform expectations with the leading industry body, the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) revising the 2020 New Energy Vehicle (NEV) forecast from 1.1 million units mid-year to 1.3 million units outperforming 2018 and 2019 levels. December 2020 marked the sixth consecutive month of growth in NEV sales in China, with a high proportion of pure battery electric vehicles (BEV’s) at 70-80% versus plug-in hybrid (PHEV) resulting in higher lithium consumption with the larger battery size of a BEV relative to a PHEV. China’s demand for lithium carbonate remained higher than the rest-of-world due to a resurgence of LFP battery formats and continued use of mid nickel NMC cathodes by Chinese battery makers producing adequate range for the majority of China’s EV buyers. SUPPLY As Chinese brine producing regions became prohibitively cold, production declined and inventories were quickly reduced, limiting availability of industrial carbonate to upgrading converters as well as cathode manufacturers who seek to maximise the use of lower cost material. This supply dynamic throughout the quarter decreased the premium, battery grade carbonate typically achieves over industrial carbonate. Supply discipline by spodumene producers and earlier mine closures meant converter stock levels also declined. As a result, China’s demand for South American lithium chemical supply grew over the quarter absorbing increased supply from Chile which had previously played a large part in driving Chinese prices down. Continued tightening in the lithium market is expected during the March quarter as Chinese brine remains restricted by weather conditions and Chinese spodumene converter output is bound by feedstock availability. Rest of world supply increases will also be limited given most South American producers have delayed 2021 expansion plans to 2022 and greenfield projects have been pushed back by lack of funding and/or high cost of capital. BORAX ARGENTINA S.A. SAFETY Following a number of safety incidents earlier in the year, Borax has improved safety performance and the team have worked hard to restore the safety commitment and accountability at all levels of the operating business. A safety stand down was implemented at Campo Quijano which allowed the operating team to participate in an extensive safety workshop, which included a review of all critical activities. Additionally, a new Safety Manager and three new experienced supervisors were recruited. Subsequent to the safety stand down, there have not been any LTI or Environmental incidents at the three operational Borax sites during the December quarter. As at 31 December, Sijes recorded 184 days free of accidents, Tincalayu achieved 168 days and Campo Quijano has had 127 days LTI free. This quarter Borax was successfully recertified for ISO 9001 and 14001. A partnership was established with “Saltaplast” to implement circular economy initiatives with an initial focus on waste recycling. Safety initiatives for the second half of the year will include the development of a local emergency response team, improvement of the work permit safety system and planning\implementation of the February and March maintenance programs. PRODUCTION, SALES AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE The December quarter achieved sales of 10,573 tonnes, up 18% QoQ and approximately 23% up from the previous corresponding period. Total sales revenue was up 14% QoQ, while the average price received was down 3% QoQ due to the sales mix. Operations have continued under the Orocobre Bio-security Protocol and to date no cases of COVID-19 have been recorded at any Borax site. COMBINED PRODUCT SALES VOLUME BY QUARTER Previous Year Quarters Recent Quarters March 201913,0416 March 202010,690June 201911,758 June 202012,278September 201912,480 September 20208,964December 20198,614 December 202010,573 CORPORATE AND ADMINISTRATION FINANCE CASH BALANCE As at 31 December 2020, Orocobre corporate had available cash of ~US$246.8 million of which US$11.1 million and US$59.6 million have been set aside as pre-completion guarantees for the Naraha debt facility and Olaroz Expansion debt facility respectively. The US$21.5 million corporate cash increase from the previous quarter includes inflows of US$30.3 million from the Share Purchase Plan, US$2.4 million from proceeds of a mining property usufruct sale, and US$0.4 million of interest income partially offset by US$11.6 million of outflows. The outflows of cash were US$9.4 million advanced to SDJ Joint Venture (SDJ) as a shareholder loan to fund the cash shortfall of the business, US$1.4 million corporate costs and US$0.8 million to Borax. Including SDJ and Borax cash and project debt, net group cash at 31 December 2020 was US$119.8 million, up from US$102.6 million at 30 September 2020. ARGENTINA ECONOMIC CONDITIONS Currency: The official foreign exchange rate depreciated by 10.5% in the December quarter from AR$76.18 at 30 September 2020, to AR$84.15 at 31 December 2020. The accumulated 12-month period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 resulted in a 41% devaluation of the AR$ against the US$. Inflation: December’s inflation was 4% and accumulated 11.4% in the quarter. The accumulated 12-month period from 1 January to 31 December 2020 resulted in inflation of approximately 36%. Export duties: On 30 December 2020, the Argentine government passed a decree updating the levy on export duties to a fixed percentage of 4.5% which compares to the previous levy of ARS$3 per US$1 of export sales. The average export duty rate applicable to FY20 was 5%, however for the six- month period 1 July to 31 December 2020 it was 3.9% under the ARS$3 per US$1 levy calculation. Authorised by: Rick AnthonJoint Company Secretary FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Andrew BarberChief Investor Relations OfficerOrocobre Limited P: +61 7 3720 9088M: +61 418 783 701 E: abarber@orocobre.comW: www.orocobre.comClick here to subscribe to the Orocobre e-Newsletter ______________________________________ 1 All figures presented in this report are unaudited2 All figures 100% Olaroz Project basis3 Orocobre report price as “FOB” (Free On Board) which excludes insurance and freight charges included in “CIF” (Cost, Insurance, Freight) pricing.Therefore, the Company’s reported prices are net of freight (shipping), insurance and sales commission. FOB prices are reported by the Company to provide clarity on the sales revenue that is recognized by SDJ, the joint venture company in Argentina4 Excludes royalties, export tax and corporate costs 5 December quarter 2019 Cost of Sales and Average Price Received have been updated to reflect adjustments made in FY20 Half Year results6 Includes 2,312 tonnes of low value mineral product
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