Maddies fund

Nigel Farage has criticised the “taxpayer-funded indoctrination of our children” after reports that the iconic BBC children’s educational programme Blue Peter was encouraging children to “go meat free”. Blue Peter has been a staple of British after-school viewing since 1958, with children undertaking tasks to obtain the much-coveted blue badge. The badges can be used to gain free entry to hundreds of attractions in the UK. The BBC programme recently launched a green badge initiative for children who are “climate heroes” and do such things as switching off lights or stopping using single-use plastic bottles. However, the programme garnered criticism for encouraging children to “go meat free”, according to The Times . The “go meat free” message had appeared on a screen during an episode, at the same time a host saying “or choose a meat-free meal”. The teacher told the children: “There are so many gender identities. So we know we have got male and female, but there … [Read more...] about ‘Taxpayer-Funded Indoctrination’: Farage Slams BBC Children’s Show for Anti-Meat Message

The Ford government has cut millions in funding for programs that provide after-school jobs for needy teens, classroom tutors for kids, “student success” supports for racialized youth as well as a project focusing on Indigenous issues, the Star has learned. The province’s 72 school boards received emails late Friday with the list of programs to be cut or that will see funding reduced, and have been scrambling all weekend to figure out the financial impact, given the specialized grant money was promised by the previous Liberal government last March and may have already been spent. Not all boards necessarily run each of the axed programs, and it may take weeks before each is able to clarify how it will impact students. “I have serious concerns,” said Maria Rizzo, chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. “I’m sick to my stomach because I’m afraid of the steps that we’ve taken on poverty, on Indigenous education, and even in the Focus on Youth program – we’ve hired our … [Read more...] about School boards ‘blindsided’ as Ford government slashes program funding

SINGAPORE - Local biotech firm ImmunoScape has received a capital injection of US$14 million (S$18.7 million) to bring its total funding in the past year to US$25 million. Singapore's EDBI, the Economic Development Board's corporate investment arm, led the latest fund-raising round, ImmunoScape said on Wednesday (April 14). This was the first time a Singapore institutional investor has been involved. EDBI, which is is investing alongside existing investors Anzu Partners from the United States and The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, tapped its Special Situation Fund for Start-ups. This helps new firms sustain innovation and entrepreneurship activities and bridge the financing gap they face amid the Covid-19 pandemic. ImmunoScape conducts research into the immune system in areas such as immuno-oncology, which involves developing treatments that use the body's immune system to fight cancer. It also recently announced a new study here on how T cells - a … [Read more...] about Fresh $18m fund injection for Singapore biotech firm doing Covid-19 research

PARIS: The European Union's COVID-19 recovery response is robust and does not fall short when compared with the United States' US$1.9 trillion recovery plan, European Council President Charles Michel told Les Echos newspaper. EU member states agreed last summer on a €750 billion (US$892.2 billion) recovery fund, but with governments still submitting detailed spending plans, frustration is growing in some capitals at the slow speed of disbursing the money. Some leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have also questioned whether further stimulus is needed after a second and now a third wave of coronavirus infections swept the continent, prompting further lockdowns. READ: French COVID-19 intensive care cases and deaths keep rising "I know perfectly well that some judge (the fund) to be insufficient, making a comparison with the US recovery plan. It's not an opinion that I share," Michel was quoted as saying in an interview published by the French newspaper on … [Read more...] about EU’s Michel says COVID-19 recovery fund is sufficient: Report

Image: Instagram/@genevacruzofficial Geneva Cruz held an online jamming session to raise funds for her mother Marilyn who was put on critical care due to COVID-19. The singer held the live performance titled “A show for Mama” on her YouTube channel last Sunday, April 11. Some of the songs in her show were “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree’s, “How Far I’ll Go” from the Disney movie Moana and “Mama” of the band Smokey Mountain, of which she was a member. “Raising funds for my mom, Marilyn Cruz, who raised me, supported me and has been the best grandma to my children. She needs proper medical attention as soon as possible as she is sick with [COVID-19],” she said. In between performances, she also assured that her mother is starting to recover from the disease. Cruz also showed a photo of her mother in the hospital watching TV the following day, April 12. She said her mom was no longer in critical care and is starting to gain more energy. “Nakaka-relax na sya ng konti at nakakanood … [Read more...] about Geneva Cruz raises funds for COVID-19-stricken mom through online show

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent — Leaders of volcano-wracked St. Vincent said Tuesday that water is running short as heavy ash contaminates supplies, and they estimated that the eastern Caribbean island will need hundreds of millions of dollars to recover from the eruption of La Soufriere. Between 16,000 to 20,000 people have been evacuated from the island’s northern region, where the exploding volcano is located, with more than 3,000 of them staying at more than 80 government shelters. Dozens of people stood in lines on Tuesday for water or to retrieve money sent by friends and family abroad. Among those standing in one crowd was retired police officer Paul Smart. “The volcano caught us with our pants down, and it’s very devastating,” he said. “No water, lots of dust in our home. We thank God we are alive, but we need more help at this moment.” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in a press conference on local station NBC Radio that St. Vincent will need hundreds of millions of … [Read more...] about St. Vincent seeks water, funds as volcano keeps erupting