Monthly Archives: June 2017

Steroids may up effectiveness of AAV-based gene therapy … – Business Standard

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ANI | Washington D.C. [USA] June 11, 2017 Last Updated at 13:42 IST

Glucocorticoid steroids, such as prednisone, may improve effectiveness of AAV-based gene therapy by reducing immune response, according to a recent research.

The study of gene transfer using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene delivery into skeletal muscle of rhesus macaques showed that oral prednisone reduced immune responses to AAV that can weaken expression of the therapeutic transgene over time.

Animals given prednisone before the gene therapy had a 60% decrease in immune cell infiltrates, mainly comprised of cytotoxic T cells, according to the study.

Megan Cramer, The Ohio State University, Paul Martin, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, and coauthors also reported that AAV-treated muscles had higher levels of a biomarker called PD-L2, which can induce programmed T-cell death.

"Prednisone is frequently used in conjunction with AAV gene therapy in the hope of blunting harmful immune responses to the AAV capsid. However, very little is known about the precise immune mechanisms involved in its use, or even if it is beneficial with various different routes of AAV administration," said Editor-in-Chief Terence R. Flotte.

The research appears in Human Gene Therapy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Glucocorticoid steroids, such as prednisone, may improve effectiveness of AAV-based gene therapy by reducing immune response, according to a recent research.

The study of gene transfer using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene delivery into skeletal muscle of rhesus macaques showed that oral prednisone reduced immune responses to AAV that can weaken expression of the therapeutic transgene over time.

Animals given prednisone before the gene therapy had a 60% decrease in immune cell infiltrates, mainly comprised of cytotoxic T cells, according to the study.

Megan Cramer, The Ohio State University, Paul Martin, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, and coauthors also reported that AAV-treated muscles had higher levels of a biomarker called PD-L2, which can induce programmed T-cell death.

"Prednisone is frequently used in conjunction with AAV gene therapy in the hope of blunting harmful immune responses to the AAV capsid. However, very little is known about the precise immune mechanisms involved in its use, or even if it is beneficial with various different routes of AAV administration," said Editor-in-Chief Terence R. Flotte.

The research appears in Human Gene Therapy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

ANI

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Steroids may up effectiveness of AAV-based gene therapy ... - Business Standard

Bioventure AnGes MG tries again to market Japan’s first gene therapy – Nikkei Asian Review

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TOKYO -- AnGes MG expects to apply in October for approval to manufacture and market a treatment for severe blockage of the arteries in the legs that could become the first commercial gene therapy product in Japan.

The Japanese biopharmaceutical startup grew out of the work of researchers at Osaka University. If the treatment is approved, partnerMitsubishi Tanabe Pharmacould begin sales as soon as next year.

Known as beperminogeneperplasmid,the product is injected directly into the feet, where it promotes the regeneration of blood vessels. It is meant to alleviate the symptoms of critical limb ischemia, a condition marked by reduced blood flow to the extremities, leading to pain and even gangrene.

AnGesestimates that its gene therapy would be suitable for around 10% of the 100,000 to 200,000 people in Japan who suffer from this condition. The alternative is surgery, which places a much heavier burden on the patient.

This will be the second time that AnGessubmits beperminogenefor approval from Japan's health ministry. The company withdrew the first application after more data was found to be needed.

AnGesis more optimistic this time because in November 2014 the health ministry introduced a conditional early approval system for regenerative medicine and gene therapies as part of the government's policy to make Japan a leader in advanced medicine.Under this fast-track system, a company can conditionally release a product and collect additional data while the treatment is in use, later submitting that data to win formal approval.

AnGeshas been conducting domestic clinical trials on beperminogenesince 2014 to take advantage of the new system. The therapy was developed in 1995 by Osaka University'sRyuichi Morishita and his team.

(Nikkei)

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Bioventure AnGes MG tries again to market Japan's first gene therapy - Nikkei Asian Review

Scientists Assert That Earth May Exist in a Massive Cosmic Void – Futurism

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In Brief University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers showed that the Milky Way exists in a part of the universe that's largely devoid of matter. Being in this void, however, could help settle the differences in measuring the rate of the universe's expansion. Riddled With Holes

If you picture what the universe looks like, you can imagine it as Swiss cheese. The sizes of holes, or voids, in the matter of the universe vary greatly. One example would be the cold spot that was found in the Universes radiation. Galaxies are connected by filaments of dark matterthat cannot be seen.

This means that the Milky Way exists in one of these voids, specifically the KBC void, which a 2013 study showed to be not as densely packed with matter as other voids. Its like our galaxy rests in a cosmological backwater the Outer Rim, so to speak. A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison which waspresented at the 2017 American Astronomical Society meeting confirms that the Milky Way does indeed reside in an enormous void.

However, the researchers claim that being in this huge KBC void also helps resolve the differences in measuring the rate the universe expands theHubble Constant, the number used to describe this cosmic expansion.

There are two ways to measure the expansion of the universe. One is a local determination using the Hubble Space Telescope, which relies on observations of supernovae that exploded in galaxies nearby. The other is a cosmic determination that relies on Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data the Big Bangs residual noise taken by the Planck observatory.

One possible explanation for the differences in the Hubble Constant measurement is due to differences in time. Hubbles observations rely on cosmic objects nearer in terms of time, while the CMB was emitted back when the universe was young. Simply put, being in a void with considerably lesser matter affects the measurement taken by observing supernovae explosions. On the other hand, the CMB technique doesnt distort the measurement at all.

No matter what technique you use, you should get the same value for the expansion rate of the Universe today, lead researcher Ben Hoscheit said in a press release. Fortunately, living in a void helps resolve this tension.

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Scientists Assert That Earth May Exist in a Massive Cosmic Void - Futurism

Dubai’s Newest Addition to the Police Force: A Robot – Futurism

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In Brief Dubai is introducing a robot to their police force to interact with citizens. Dubai's goal is to have their police force consist of 25% robots by 2030.

Disclosure: The Dubai Future Foundation works in collaboration with Futurism and is one of our sponsors.

Dubai is set to introduce the newest member of their police force:a 5-foot, 5-inch [165.1 cm], 222-pound [100.698 kg] robot whichwill be equipped with facial recognition technology and have the ability to broadcast live video feeds.The first model, which will begin patrolling the streets of thefuturistic city today, will not be on the front lines making arrests, but will be interacting with the community. Residents of Dubai will be able to report crimes, pay fines, and ask the robot questions (though what sort of questions is unclear).

The head of Dubais Police Tech divisiontold reporters at the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference that by 2030, [Dubai is] keen to make robots around 25% of the total police force. Thoughthis may sound like the beginning of a dystopian novel, this is not the first robot in use by a police force.

Police departments in the United States use robots for training purposes and also utilize bomb-diffusing robots that were first created for the American military. In 2016, the Cleveland Police used robots to patrol the Republican National Convention, while police in Dallas outfitted a robot with a bomb to kill a sniper after losing numerous police lives. South Korea has robot prison guards, and Israeli police use robots in their counter-terrorism unit.

While this is not the first robot to be put into use by police, it is the first that will be ever present on the streets of a city that will eventually be able to make arrests and have all of the responsibilities of a regular cop. The rollout will happen over the next decade, so hopefully that will be enough time to work out any kinks including robots lack of human empathy. And, as these robots have recording capabilities, make sure none of them document any PDA on video.

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Dubai's Newest Addition to the Police Force: A Robot - Futurism

An Entire Town in the US Is Sinking Because of Climate Change – Futurism

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In Brief Isle de Jean Charles in the bayous of Louisiana is sinking into the Gulf of Mexico due to climate change, causing its residents to relocate. This is just one symptom of climate change and emphasizes the urgent necessity to fight it. Drowning Communities

Isle de Jean Charles, a small island in southeastern Louisianas bayous, is drowning as the Gulf of Mexico rises. Twenty-ninehomes remain, housing 100 people, but they are all being relocated because the flooding is unstoppable. The island has already lost 98% of its land since 1955, making it one of the most visible victims of climate change so far. The residents can either leave their homes or die in them, and they are leaving.

Now theres just a little strip of land left, resident Rita Falgout tells Quartz. Thats all we have. Theres water all around us. Im anxious to go.

Residents of places like Isle de Jean Charles can compete for a chance to relocate through the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC), a program organized by the federal government. The goal of the program is to help states and communities recover from disasters and lower risks from future disasters. However, the looming threats from climate change are growing, and affecting more and more communities; Louisiana alone is losing the equivalent of one football fields worth of land every hour.

Climate change is affecting larger coastal areas in the U.S., from Alaska down to Florida and Louisiana. Climate-induced migration is now a concrete reality for citizens of our country, not an abstract idea for politicians to talk about. Research from a March 2016 study indicates that collapsing polar ice caps are likely to cause sea levels to rise by 6 feet (1.8 meters) by 2100; this will in turn force at least 13.1 million Americans living in coastal areas to become homeless. A less drastic rise of 3 feet would leave at least 4 million homeless.

The only solution to these problems is combating climate change before it is too late. States like Hawaii are sticking with the Paris Accord goals, and various cities, states, and businesses are also banding together to maintain a commitment to this important issue, regardless of the action the federal government does or does not take. We cant relocate everyone, and our window for making a difference is closing. Thankfully, the world isnt giving up.

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An Entire Town in the US Is Sinking Because of Climate Change - Futurism

France is Now Offering US Scientists Grants to Research Climate Change – Futurism

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In Brief A new program, inspired by the efforts of French president Emmanuel Macron, is opening the country up to scientists and other experts who are working on solution to the climate problem.

Recently elected French president Emmanuel Macron has madehis offer to U.S. climate scientistsmore official: the French government has launched a program that gives four-year grants to scientists, teachers, business people, and even students who are working on climate change solutions. Of course, to receive the grant, the individual must be willing tomove in to France.

The program, called Make Our Planet Great Again, wasinspired by a speech Macron gave last week in response toPresident Donald Trumps decision to withdraw the United Statessupport and commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.

Where ever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility, Macron said the speech,Make our planet great again, anobvious play on President Trumpscampaign slogan.

To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the President of the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland, Macron said. This echoes an earlier message the French president posted viavideo on Facebook almost a month before he was elected.

With this new initiative, France is affirming the importance of a combined global effort to combat climate change, which remains aglobal problem. Its necessary to pool the minds of the worlds experts and to fund projects particularly those devoted to research aimed at curbing climate change. As Macron said, its crucial for all of us to work together on concrete solutions for our climate, our environment.

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France is Now Offering US Scientists Grants to Research Climate Change - Futurism

Madeja: Keep working on Freedom Plan to get it right – Carroll County Times

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By now all Freedom residents should know public comment for the 2017 Freedom Community Comprehensive Plan ends on June 20, at which point the Planning and Zoning Commission could approve the plan and send it to the Board of County Commissioners for a 60-day review.

Now is the time for all of us to demand better. Freedom Area roads are overcrowded, our schools are the only ones at or near capacity. We ask for better restaurants, better retail choices and more places for family recreation. We get another grocery store. If you are tired of being ignored, read on.

Here are some of the summary of recommendations that county planning department wrote as part of the rationale for updating the comprehensive plan.

Here's what they say: Facilitate residential infill development in character with the existing housing in Freedom's established neighborhoods.

Here's the reality: The planning department proposes to increase the densities on three large parcels Gibson, Beatty and Wolf without justification from the property owners to show how the change benefits the community. None of the increased densities will match the character of the surrounding neighborhoods. The development of these parcels could mean an increase of over 600 homes in an area where schools are at or near capacity and roads are already clogged with congestion. No one property owner's rights are more important than any others.

Here's what they say: Increase the amount of land designated for commercial and light industrial uses in the areas targeted for economic development.

Here's the reality: The intersection of Md. 32 and Md. 26 remains the center of commerce. From the inception of the Comprehensive Mini Plan for the Freedom Area and Environs, the stated and expected areas of development have always been the Md. 26 and Md. 32 corridors, not our quiet residential neighborhoods. We have many vacant storefronts and land in that corridor yet the county planning department wants to put commercial and light industrial uses in the same neighborhoods they promised to protect in item one.

Here's what they say: Ensure that the development review process is predictable, consistent and evenly applied.

Here's the reality: If the county planning department refuses to update our 15-year-old zoning codes before moving forward with this plan we will be open to other costly and time consuming lawsuits that pit the county against itself. The perfect example is the assisted living facility on Oklahoma Road. A similar facility can be built anywhere in the county because the zoning that allows it is still in place. As long as the county continues to change zoning amendments, like Amendment 156, to favor developers we will not have an evenly applied process. Predictability? Well just go back to items one and two.

The State of Maryland has set forth "The 12 State Planning Visions" which the county is required to address when revising our plan. Vision No. 2 is public participation: "citizens are active partners in the planning and implementation of community initiatives and are sensitive to their responsibilities in achieving community goals."

Unfortunately, citizens have only been allowed to react to the plan put forth by the county not be active participants. For over four months, the county planning department met without actively seeking public participation. How long would have this continued if a group of advocates not heard the plan was under revision and contacted the county planning department?

All but one member of the Planning and Zoning Commission lives outside the Freedom area. That so many citizens who live in the northern part of the county are making decisions for us is illogical and disingenuous.

The large parcels being considered for development in this plan are within 5 miles of Bennett Road, so logically the majority of concerned citizens come from this area. Throughout this process, falsehoods have been perpetuated that our resistance to this plan is because "we don't want that in our backyard." I think a more accurate and realistic assessment is that the rest of the county doesn't want it in theirs. We certainly don't expect the county not to grow, we are simply demanding accountability and the predictability and consistency the county is required to give.

It is not only our right but our duty to be informed and involved in our community. Openness, accountability and honesty are the traits of government transparency. Transparency is a government's obligation to share information with citizens. It is the heart of how citizens hold our elected officials, and government employees, accountable.

I am respectfully requesting that the Freedom Plan continue to be reworked until the county can meet the goals that they, the State of Maryland and we the citizens have set for them. If you agree write to the county commissioners at commissioners@cccg.carr.org and the planning and zoning commission at ccplanning@ccg.carr.org and tell them so.

Kimberly Madeja writes from Eldersburg.

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Madeja: Keep working on Freedom Plan to get it right - Carroll County Times

The greatest threat to our freedom – Inquirer.net

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More than two centuries ago, Thomas Paine wrote that society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution raised enormous optimism among millions of Filipinos that democracy and progress are finally on the way. But three decades later, the nation has remained deeply divided.

Our prejudices against each other do not merely come from obvious political demarcation lines; they are rooted in the hegemonic regional divide. For most Filipinos, Manila evokes images of high-rise structures, elite schools, flyovers and horrendous traffic, while Mindanao is often associated with the Moro rebellion, the rural life and, indeed, severe poverty. Until this day, politics in the country continues to be dominated by aristocrats.

Philippine public life is controlled by a very limited number of rich families and politicians, who rule in perpetuity by monopolizing power in government. In this way, politics has only become that existential burden in our never-ending search for happiness as a society. But nation-building is a serious question that should concern every Filipino. Andres Bonifacios Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa rightly comes to mind.

But all our hopes for this God-forsaken land might just remain utopian because no rich man will unconditionally give his wealth to the poor. And so, we are a country of dreamsdreams of peace and prosperity, dreams of love and happiness. Elitist democratic rule breeds social and economic injustice. The harsh reality is that it results in the marginalization and exclusion of millions among us.

The poor are wanting in what Pierre Bourdieu calls cultural capital. Since the civic sphere has become almost the exclusive domain of the educated class, the majority of Filipinos are unduly denied of a platform or sounding board for them to critically express their legitimate protests against the abuses so often perpetrated by those who are in positions of power.

Yet politics is not just a matter of class interest. A nation is formed by its culture and history. Solidarity is also that enduring quest for a community that dignifies the life of each and truly respects the uniqueness of every person. But the road to institutional reform that leads to justice and equality is a dreary and treacherous journey.

Many among us lead unhappy lives. Millions toil without ever seeing the fruits of their labor, and millions more persist in this cruel world even if they are not really sure of achieving their modest goals in life. Perhaps, such is the sad tapestry on which our destiny as a nation is founded. But while most poor parents may not see the change in the lives of their children, they will continue to carry in their hearts the spirit and passion to pursue all that needs to be done.

It is not the task of political philosophy to preach to the world what men and women ought to be. Human freedom, G.W.F. Hegel teaches us, is a life and death struggle. Philippine politics is defined by conflicts and particular interests. It is only in the recognition of the right of each Filipino to a decent life that this society may be able to throw away the many forms of unwarranted privilege so wrongly enjoyed by the very few.

President Dutertes unsmiling radicalism is not the greatest threat to our freedom. Rather, it is our divisiveness. This is the most difficult obstacle in the effort to overcome the many decades of misery to which thousands upon thousands of Filipinos have been subjected. In the end, we must find that common ground that will bind us together as a nation. The sacrifice of democratic ideals can only mean the irreparable loss of our liberties. Thus, the standard of reasonableness should be the lever on which the future of this nation must depend.

Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD, is assistant professor of philosophy at Ateneo de Davao University.

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The greatest threat to our freedom - Inquirer.net

Duterte: Honor those who fought for Phl’s freedom – Philippine Star

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MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has called on Filipinos to honor the heroism of those who fought for the Philippines freedom by performing their civic duties and protecting the countrys sovereignty.

In his Independence Day message, the President noted that thousands laid down their lives more than a century ago so that Filipinos today may live with the dignity and rights befitting a free nation.

Let us take inspiration from our forebears who valiantly fought and offered their lives so that we may have the liberties that we enjoy today. Let us pay homage to their heroism by preserving our sovereignt and performing our own civic rights and responsibilities, Duterte said.

After all, it is our inherent duty as citizens to ensure that the Philippines fulfills its destiny as a great and prosperous nation, he added.

Duterte also said the countrys journey to freedom was a long and arduous one and involved blood, sweat and the ultimate act of selfless sacrifice.

Despite the insurmountable hardships, the patriotism and undaunted spirit of the Filipino led to our triumph against the shackles of slavery and abuse, the President added.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

The Philippines is celebrating today the 119th anniversary of the proclamation of its independence from Spain.

Photo shows President Duterte comforting a relative of slain S/Sgt. Joven Triston upon arrival of the remains at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City from Cagayan de Oro last night. MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

Duterte will lead the flag-raising and wreath laying ceremonies in Rizal Park in Manila. Independence Day rites will also be held in Pampanga, Laguna, Davao City, Bukidnon, Baguio City, Iloilo, Cavite, Bulacan, Caloocan and San Juan.

But Duterte cancelled the traditional vin dhonneur to attend to matters in Mindanao, which has been placed under martial law because of terrorist threats.

Vice President Leni Robredo will also attend the wreath-laying ceremonies in Rizal Park. In the afternoon, she is expected to attend a democracy summit at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Robredo asked Filipinos to honor the soldiers and policemen who fought for freedom in Marawi City.

The military aims to raise the Philippine flag in Marawi this Independence Day to show that the government has regained control of the countrys only Islamic City after almost three weeks of intense fighting with extremists, who had claimed allegiance to the terrorist organization Islamic State.

On Independence Day, lets not forget the heroism of our countrymen who continue to fight members of the Maute terror group in Marawi City, Robredo saidyesterdayover her weekly program over dzXL BISErbisyong Leni.

Robredo said she hopes Filipinos today would be inspired by Philippines gaining of independence 119 years ago.

Senators also called on Filipinos to fight for freedom from terror, injustice and poverty amid the proliferation of fake news and online persecution that they said undermine the countrys democracy.

Liberal Party Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Francis Pangilinan in separate statements said 119 years after the countrys obtained its independence because of the sacrifices of heroes, its democracy continues to be under threat.

Pangilinan cited the ongoing battle in Marawi City as well the imposition of martial law in Mindanao; high-poverty incidence; inaccessibility of education, and proliferation of fake news.

He said he wished that Filipinos be free from fake news and lies.

As one nation, we have gone through many trials. We owe that to those who gave their lives and sacrificed our heroes, ordinary people who responded to the challenge of history, Pangilinan said in Filipino.

Aquino said Filipinos in the past fought for independence from foreign rule, and fought for freedom from a ruthless dictator, referring to the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Now, we fight terrorism, encroachment on our territory and our freedom to dissent, the senator said.

In an era of fake news, rabid online persecution and weak political institutions, we need to fight for our democracy now more than ever, he said.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima saluted the countrys modern day heroes overseas Filipino workers, teachers, government workers and media, as well as hardworking Filipinos who toil for their families.

De Lima also thanked the soldiers and policemen who continue to battle Maute militants in Marawi City to protect the country from terrorism.

We call on the Duterte regime to stop your crooked system of governance. The country cannot grow by killing our poor countrymen, she said, referring to the drug-related extrajudicial killings that critics said have only victimized low-level pushers.

Sen. Joel Villanueva is set to file a bill penalizing those who maliciously create and intentionally spread fake news in print, broadcast or online following the false claims of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II implicating some opposition lawmakers in the conflict in Marawi City. Alexis Romero, Helen Flores, Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte-Felipe

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Duterte: Honor those who fought for Phl's freedom - Philippine Star

Savannah celebrates freedom at annual Juneteenth event – Savannah Morning News

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Hundreds crowded the Jepson Center on Saturday to celebrate freedom and African culture during the museums 11th annual Juneteenth celebration.

Juneteenth, which is celebrated on June 19, recognizes June 19, 1865 the day Texas, the last state to abolish slavery, emancipated its slaves.

Today is about freedom, said Harry DeLorme, museum senior coordinator. We have a little bit of everything for everyone and some great performances.

The museums event was held Saturday to avoid clashing with other Juneteenth celebrations in the city, DeLorme said.

The family-friendly event, which ran from 1 to 4 p.m., featured cultural exhibits, kids activities and live dance performances from local groups such as the Abeni Cultural Arts Performing Dance Studio.

Dance is universal, said Devan Cokley, an Abeni dancer. People should know that there is more out there besides ballet, jazz and others typical things that you make think of. Through dance, you can celebrate a culture and African dances celebrate the African culture and our roots.

Visitors also got the opportunity to learn about historic traditions such as the basket making and creations of Kente Cloth and participated in a libations ceremony.

Vaughnette Goode-Walker, who coordinates the annual event at the Jepson, said she has seen history change before her eyes in Savannah.

This is all about history, Goode-Walker said.

And Saturday was all about learning from history to create a better future, according to Gregory Grant, a basket maker tabling at Saturdays event.

There is the legend of the Sankofa Bird that flies forward with its head looking backward, he said. You cannot know where you are going without knowing where you came from.

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Savannah celebrates freedom at annual Juneteenth event - Savannah Morning News

Israeli University Heads Blast New Ethical Code as Undermining Academic Freedom – Haaretz

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The code of ethics is expected to ban professors from voicing political opinions in classrooms or supporting BDS

The umbrella organization of the heads of Israel's universities has blasted a new ethical code formulated at the behest of the Education Ministry that is expected to bar professors from voicing their political opinions in classrooms.

The code, put together at the request of Education Minister Naftali Bennett by Prof. Asa Kasher, an ethics and philosophy professor at Tel Aviv University, would also forbid staff from calling for an academic boycott of Israel, it was revealed Friday.

"The heads of the universities vehemently object to the 'ethical code' outlining 'proper behavior' for academic facility in Israel.

"The ethical code, proposed by Prof. Asa Kasher, undermines institutes of higher education's freedom to decide their own codes of conduct for their academic staffs, and thus infringes on academic freedom in the most serious and fundamental way," it said, saying the right was enshrined as part of Israeli law.

"A closer examination of the code shows that thought it is titled 'Ethical code for the overlap between academic and political activity,' many of its clauses deal with academic matters like research and teaching in a general way. Thus, the code turns into a list of rules dictated by the authorities regarding the overall practices of academic faculty in Israel.

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"The code's content only reinforces the opposition, on principle, to creating a unified code of conduct for all of Israel's academic institutes," they said in a statement.

Bennett had asked Kasher a few months ago to write a set of rules for appropriate political conduct at academic institutions. Kasher had written the Israel Defense Forces' ethics code.

The contents of the document, which were first reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Friday, will soon be submitted for the approval of the Council for Higher Education.

The code would require each institution "to establish a unit that would monitor political activity" on campus, the document says. The unit could be an existing system, like an ethics committee, or a new department managed by the institution's academic staff. So far institutions have not been required to reply to students' complaints or inquiries on political activity, according to Kasher. The new units would remedy that.

In a statement, Bennett's office said the code would bar lecturers from "promoting their political worldview in class."

"If a lecturer does talk [about politics], and one of the students complains about it, that lecturer could receive a disciplinary citation from the institution," the statement said. Should the lecturer ignore the warning, he may face harsher disciplinary action.

The code also bars academic staff from taking part in or calling for an academic boycott of Israel, and forbids collaboration with organizations that are considered political. The education minister's office said that while it supports absolute academic freedom, it opposes "the promotion of lecturers' political agendas in the academe."

"It's unacceptable that students are afraid to express their opinions in class for fear for their grades, or that lecturers call for a boycott of the institution where they teach," the statement said. "This isn't against any political side and anyway there is no reason for any side to object."

In December, the Committee of University Heads urged Bennett to scrap a plan to draft an ethics code after Haaretz first reported on it. Universities need to continue maintaining independent disciplinary systems, the committee said at the time, warning that a code dictated by an outside authority would violate the freedom of expression.

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Israeli University Heads Blast New Ethical Code as Undermining Academic Freedom - Haaretz

The price of freedom – Philippine Star

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As we celebrate our Independence Day today we cant do so without a long look at the sacrifices made by so many to achieve it. Thats the true spirit of independence or kalayaan and you can be sure that the liberties you are enjoying now came a high cost for those youve never even met. Truly I dont know if the youth or even the older generations still understand the cost of freedom. In our history the cost of our independence was paid in blood.

I know that we take our freedom for granted in so many ways today. The same freedom of speech we have we abuse when we raise our voices in anger at one another and make slanderous claims. The same freedom we have to peaceful protest has lost its meaning when every single week there is a protest about one thing or another. Lets face it, in so many ways, weve forgotten what that freedom or independence truly means in our every day lives and squander it.

Now Ill admit that most of the time it is unintentional. We are just so used to having the freedom that we have now that we dont stop to think how different our lives would have been if we were born 119 years ago. How one wrong word could have landed us in jail or how having an opinion could put you in front of the firing squad. It seems so much time has passed that we have forgotten what it must have been like to not have liberties and all the sacrifices so many made so that we could enjoy our freedom today.

History buffs have been reminding us for years, and especially in this last year alone, that those who dont know their history are doomed to repeat it. And that seems to be truer now than ever before. While some kids can give you a rough idea of what we celebrate today most cannot. Most cant even remember Martial Law era of the 1980s let alone the bloody battles over 100 years ago. They were born into the world they live in now and behave as though that is the way it has always been.

I cant blame them. Perhaps we have all gotten complacent when it comes to the freedom we enjoy in our every day life. When things dont go our way we go online and rant about them. We videotape every altercation and put people on trial in the court of public opinion. We elect officials haphazardly and when they fail to live up to our expectations we immediately think of ways to impeach them. We take to the streets without reverence and we think that we are fighting the same way our forefathers did. Honestly, I think most of us cant even comprehend what that must have been like.

Would you march out of our comfortable homes with the same fervor if you knew you would have to pay the ultimate price? Would your rants on social media be as loud if the punishment was the same? I dont know. Maybe for some of us they would be but not for the majority who would soon realize that the cost of the actions would need to be paid in blood and sometimes not even by them but by those they love.

Opinion ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

I think remembering what our freedom truly cost is something extremely important as we celebrate our Independence Day. Its even more poignant now than ever before because as we are celebrating here in Manila and around the world, battalions of our soldiers have put their lives on the line in Marawi fighting once again for freedom against terror and oppression. Despite the many conflicting opinions about Marawi one thing remains sure these men and women are putting their own lives on the line and deserve our respect and admiration.

In fact the cost of sacrifice once again came to light with the viral story of Army Private First Class Dhan Ryan Bayot. His incredible courage in the face of adversity is something that should inspire us all. This young solider was part of the 51st Infantry Battalion team stationed at Barangay Lilod in Marawi serving as additional security for a local government official stationed above their detachment.

Their battalion was attacked with, if reports prove true, the help of the security men of the local executive who were sympathetic with Maute terrorists. The assault was well planned and overwhelming and even though the battalion radioed for reinforcements none could get through because the way was heavily blocked and guarded by hostiles.

After hours of fighting and with most of his comrades dead, Private Bayot knew the inevitable was near. He radioed his commanding officer and instead of pleading for help or expressing anger and anguish at their situation simply requested Bombahin na lang niyo and location ko, Sir! (Just bomb my location, Sir!). He knew the end was near for him and he wanted to take down as many enemies as he could. He faced death without fear and chose instead courage and the hopes of making the enemies pay an equally high price. That is a hero and that is the price they are willing to pay.

On May 28 the soldiers remains and those of his comrades were finally retrieved. And serve as just one of many reminders that there are just as many brave men and women putting their lives on the line for us today, as there were hundreds of years ago. The men and women who serve our country deserve our respect and admiration whatever our political leanings may be. And today, more than any other, we need to give thanks for the freedom that their sacrifices bought and vow not to take it for granted.

Now, more than ever, we must be the watchmen/women of our own history and make sure that every generation remembers it and reveres it. Happy 119th Araw ng Kalayaan, Philippines and may we all endeavor to be better and do better every day.

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The price of freedom - Philippine Star

PWDs mark challenges, gains in Freedom Walk – Inquirer.net

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Anna Amezola is a Filipino parathlete who joined Saturdays Freedom Walk of PWDs in Quezon City. She is part of the countrys delegation in the 2017 Asean Para Games to be held in Malaysia in September.-Jhesset O. Enano

Rising early and braving the rains on Saturday morning, Anna Amezola was all smiles as she wheeled herself out of her Quezon City home, with a Philippine flag in each hand and a third planted in her ponytail.

Born with cerebral palsy, the 47-year-old Barangay Bagong Silangan resident was one of more than a thousand persons with disabilities (PWDs) who turned up for their annual Freedom Walk, an event timed with the upcoming Independence Day to spread awareness of the challenges faced and gains steadily won by Filipino PWDs.

Amezolas participation in the 7-year-old activity marked her transformation from being a shy, wheelchair-bound girl to a forward-looking achiever: She is one of athletes who will be representing the country in the 2017 Asean Para Games in September.

When I was younger, I just stayed at home and avoided people, she told the Inquirer. But then someone told me to accept my disability and encouraged me to live my life.

I need to win this for the Philippines, she said of her upcoming match in boccia, a ball game specifically created for athletes with cerebral palsy and severe locomotor disabilities such as muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrigs disease.

Representatives from different cities in Metro Manila and several PWD groups used Saturdays event to celebrate the successes of the sector. This years host, Quezon City, was also the site of the first Freedom Walk in 2011 and where at least 51,000 residents are considered PWDs.

According to the 2010 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority, PWDs account for around 1.4 million or around 1.57 percent of the national population.

More than a thousand PWDs join Saturdays event in Quezon City.NIO JESUS ORBETA

The country was one of the first in Asia to have its own law on PWD rights, with the passage of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities in March 1992.

Carmen Zubiaga, director of the National Council for Disability Affairs, noted that more and more local governments had been paying attention to the needs of PWDs. Quezon City, for example, opened a PWD affairs office in 2012.

In the local government units that previously hosted the Freedom Walk (such as Taguig, San Juan and Mandaluyong), they have given more services to PWDs and provided more accessible environments, she said. Now, more and more PWDs are working and studying.

Emer Rojas, president of New Vois Association of the Philippines, said theres a reason why Freedom Walk is held just before the countrys Independence Day.

We seek freedom from the barriers (that keep us from being) productive members of society, said Rojas, who had lost his voice box to laryngeal cancer and needs an electronic device pressed against his throat to make himself audible. We want to show that we are not hindering the country from growth; instead, we want to contribute to that progress.

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PWDs mark challenges, gains in Freedom Walk - Inquirer.net

Readers Write: Freedom of speech, personal spending priorities, the Comey testimony – Minneapolis Star Tribune

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The June 4 commentary by Edward J. Cleary on protection of free speech over righteous censorship (Tending the flame of freedom ) was outstanding. It presented multiple strong arguments why we must be tolerant of and open to listening to the words of others, even if those words significantly differ from our own beliefs. The commentary was replete with good advice, too many points to adequately re-articulate here. One important focus was on speech code, the protection some seek/demand from thoughts and ideas adverse to their own. Sustaining such a closed environment reinforces a narrow-minded and self-centered populace.

Consider three recent news trends:students turning their backs on or walking out on commencement speakers, constituents shouting at public representatives at open public meetings, and anything to do with President Donald Trump. In each situation, individuals demand the right to voice or act out their opinion, but deny their opponents their equal right to express their own opinion. It is no wonder that our elected representatives are so ineffective. They are simply reflecting the narrow-mindedness of their constituents. Maintenance of free speech, no matter whether one agrees or disagrees, is the basis of democracy. When one denies free speech to others, or refuses to listen, that represents the beginning of the demise of democracy. Democracy provides each of us the right to our own opinions, but it does not provide the right to suppress the opinions of others.

Thomas P. Moyer, Golden Valley

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Readers Write: Freedom of speech, personal spending priorities, the Comey testimony - Minneapolis Star Tribune

A Balanced Ecosystem – An Aquarium | WWF

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The term ecosystem describes both the living and non-living components of an area that interact with one another. All the components are inter-dependant in some way with each other. An ecosystem may be aquatic or terrestrial.

Advantages It is difficult to find a perfectly balanced ecosystem but you can make a model at home and observe how the ecosystem functions.

This way you will not disturb the bed or any other plants or fish when you pour water. When the water is at least 1 inch higher than the bed, put the plants into the soil. As the water level goes up the leaves of the plants will also rise up.

After the tank is full with about 4 inches left on top, stop pouring the water. Let the water settle for some time. Now introduce the fish one by one and close the top.

Observation Observe whether some fish are destroying the plants or whether some fish are eating other fish. If the population of one species goes down dramatically, try and find the reason why this has happened. See what will bring back the balance- is it more fish of the same species, places for them to hide and be protected from predator fish, or more oxygen in the water?

For your project display, describe the abiotic (nonliving) factors present. Explain why the living and nonliving elements are needed in the aquarium. Give reasons for selecting the organisms or type of fish and the plants. Explain what relationship the fish have with each other and the plants- are they prey-predator? Show where they are in the food chain. Note their life cycle. Describe their adaptations and interactions with each other and the environment.

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A Balanced Ecosystem - An Aquarium | WWF

Portugal’s scaleup ecosystem is growing twice as fast as the European average – VentureBeat

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During the past few years, many have covered the remarkable and rapid road that Portugal, and particularly its capital, Lisbon, has travelled by reframing its financial and economic woes into an opportunity for the nation to reinvent itself as a global startup hub.

The Portuguese scaleup ecosystem is growing twice as fast as the European average reads the headline of the report released this week by the SEP Monitor, entitled Portugal Rising. Unsurprisingly, Lisbon has the highest concentration of activity, representing 40 percent of scaleups and raising 65 percent of the total money made available to Portuguese scaleups.

Its interesting to note international investors are playing a central role in the scale-up of the Portuguese ecosystem. 62 percent of capital made available to scaleups 86 percent of later stage rounds comes from abroad. Ricardo Marvo, cofounder and Head of Global Projects at Beta-i, commented in the reports highlights.

There couldnt be stronger validation that the bustling startup ecosystem that was kindled just seven short years ago is thriving, and is well on its way to launching the kind of big ticket exits that seem to be inevitable at this pace.

The timing of the report accompanied the latest edition of the Lisbon Investment Summit that also ran this week, organized by Beta-i, notably one of the central pillars responsible for the current Portuguese startup renaissance. Beta-i codeveloped the report in partnership with Mind the Bridge, a foundation that promotes entrepreneurship around the world.

Lisbons recovery is very much owed to the likes of Beta-is founders, battle-tested executives that, unlike many of their peers, didnt leave their country at the outset of the recession but instead chose to work alongside the grassroots community and an incredibly supportive government, turning the tide of their economy by leveraging a mix of favorable factors that Portugal is renowned for.

I do believe even though the crisis was bad for Portugal, it gave an impressive boost to its entrepreneurial aspect and forced a new generation into creating their own jobs, Marvo told me.

Above: Battle-tested Beta-i founders.

Those favorable factors include an English-speaking workforce, a wide pool of technical talent, and a low burn rate that together have been drawing in an increasing supply of startup founders that choose Lisbon as their base. The year-round sunny, warm, climate and exceptionally high quality of life may also have something to do with it.

The Portuguese ecosystem has the right ingredients to prosper in the future. Of course, it still needs some companies to exit over $100 million and/or IPO to help inject the ecosystem with more capital, but progress is in the works, Google Clouds Europe VC and Startup Manager, David Roldan, told me. He also pointed to English-language TV in the country as a big plus, since it has made for a large population of English speakers. (A government spokesperson told me that because Portugal hasnt had the budget to dub foreign shows, they run instead with subtitles instead, so Portuguese children grow up hearing a lot of English.)

In fact, waves of all sorts of foreigners are splashing onto the shores of Lisbon. The resurgence has spread along parallel lines to produce a thriving art scene that draws in the creative types that reminds one of the kind of conditions that led to Berlins blooming startup scene.

But trying to tie down the evolution of Lisbon and Portugal by looking for some reference point, as if that could capture whats happening here in the west coast of Europe, is somewhat of a futile exercise.

Above: One of the billboards across Portugal

This is not the New Berlin and This is not the New Silicon Valley, no, This is Portugal read the highway billboards that have been plastered around the country by StartupPortugal in order to set the record straight and curb the twirling associations that attempt to tell the story before its had a chance to unfold for itself.

A testament to the fact that the local community is only growing stronger and more resilient by the day is the Portuguese Startup Manifesto released by a group of Portuguese entrepreneurs last year, illustrating an ambition to succeed not just in the region but globally.

And its proving increasingly tricky to find someone in the startup industry who isnt aware of Lisbons rising status when the Web Summit, the event that Forbes has declared the best technology conference on the planet, relocated to the city and held its first run last year. The flagship event attracted over 53,000 people from around the world, raked in over 175 million of revenue for the city, and is expected to scale to even greater proportions this coming November.

Above: Web Summit Lisbon

We moved to Lisbon because it is an exciting tech hub with strong infrastructure, a world-class venue and a thriving startup community. This year were expecting 60,000 + attendees from over 160+ countries, Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave told me in an email.

Over the past several years, dozens of incubators, accelerators, hubs, coworking spaces, and boot camps have appeared, and even the top universities, like the Instituto Superior Tcnico, have pivoted their curriculum to prioritize entrepreneurship.

A lot has changed in the last few years regarding the way entrepreneurship is seen by the Portuguese people, but we still have a lot of work to increase the numbers of those that decide to start new and innovative businesses, explained Antonio Lucena de Faria, founder of Fbrica de Startups, a four-year-old accelerator that runs boot camps for aspiring startup founders, including applicants from Brazil, Macao, and other Portuguese-speaking lands.

Joo Vasconcelos, Secretary of State of Industry for the Portuguese Industry, told me that half of the new jobs being created in the country are coming from companies less than five years old. He said that this news, as well as news like Mercedes opening a digital hub in Lisbon with plans to hire over 300 people, is important to stopping the brain drain and attracting some of the best talent that left Portugal in the financial crisis back to the country.

Above: Fbrica de Startups Ideation Week for Retail, May 2017

Amir-Esmaeil Bozorgzadeh is founder of Virtuleap, a sandbox for creative developers to showcase their VR concepts to the world. He is also the European Partner at Edoramedia, a games publisher and digital agency with its headquarters in Dubai.

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Portugal's scaleup ecosystem is growing twice as fast as the European average - VentureBeat

Pakistan’s tech eco system an overview – Pakistan Today

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Whats lacking?

70pc of Pakistans youth is less than 30 years old and internet penetration has increased from 10pc to 18pc in 2017. Its a low broadband penetration as out of a total of around 200 million people, only 36 million people are online

Entrepreneurship is the key for progress of the world. The big tech giants of the world, e.g. Google, Facebook or booking.com were, just a decade back, tiny startups which due to the presence of a strong ecosystem in their respective countries were able to scale at such a massive level. Startups cannot survive without a proper tech eco system established around them. Making an analogy with the natural ecosystem, the tech or the startup ecosystem is a mutually beneficial system with inter related entities working to support the startups by helping in creating new startups and scale existing ones.

In Pakistan, the entrepreneurship discourse became talk of the town just 23 years back. Now, Pakistans ecosystem has graduated from an infant to a premature stage and thanks to the efforts made by the various stake holders, the government is also giving equal importance to it which is laying the foundations of a vibrant startup community. An entrepreneurial ecosystem depends on existing infrastructure fundamentals required for startup growth e.g. broad band and mobile penetration in the country, literacy rate, government policies, the non-profit organisations working for the support of entrepreneurship in the country, numbers of incubators and accelerators in a country, the network of angel investors, and formal venture capital and equity investment companies in a country.

Pakistan is a market ripe for entrepreneurship and technological innovation. 70pc of Pakistans youth is less than 30 years old and internet penetration has increased from 10pc to 18pc in 2017. Its a low broadband penetration as out of a total of around 200 million people, only 36 million people are online. But, encouragingly, the growth is fast. According to one source, every month one million mobile users are coming online through their phones every month in Pakistan. The active social media users constitute about 16pc of the total population while active mobile social users constitute about 14pc of the total population. However, active social media users are registering a growth of 35pc year on year. Similarly, like other developing markets, Pakistan is rapidly moving towards a mobile first market. According to the data by the hootsuite and we are social, two leading digital media agencies, 70pc of the Pakistans web traffic comes from mobile phones. Recently an interesting report was published about the Pakistans entrepreneurial ecosystem. According to the report, 23pc of the Pakistan youth want to start their own business, a no. they took from the UNDP data. But the report also states that this 23pc is clueless about the procedures and the requirements of the business.

The most important stakeholders in an entrepreneurial system are the incubators and accelerators. Making an analogy with the child incubator, incubators allow the startup to breathe and give it oxygen by providing free office space, internet, and most importantly mentorship for the first few months of its existence. They also help them in connecting with the potential investors for their startups. An accelerator is meant to accelerate an already founded startup which is in operational phase. Since 2014, many new incubators and accelerators have been formed in the country. The most important ones among them are the LCE (LUMS center for entrepreneurship), Plan 9, and the [emailprotected] (Nest i/o). The other considerable ones are women X, we create center,Founders institute, Revolt and NUST technology incubation center. The federal government has also launched a national incubation center in Islamabad with the help of Mobilink. Among the accelerators are the Plan X, i2i (Invest to innovate), Telenor velocity and 10 XC. Recently, Pakistan Innovation Foundation in collaboration with innoventures has launched an accelerator as well. However, one problem is that the number of startups being churned out by these incubators is much more than those who are getting funded. Another problem is the lack of entrepreneurship training for the young startups which are incubated in these incubators. There must be formal entrepreneurship and digital marketing boot camps by these institutions for the startups which get incubated with them.

The second most important stake holder in an entrepreneurial ecosystem is the government. Encouragingly, our government, both at the provincial and the national levels, is playing a very positive role in the development of entrepreneurship. Thanks to Mr Umar Saif, Punjab was the leader in bringing the IT revolution to the country. Plan-9 and Plan X, the incubator and the accelerator of the government of Punjab respectively, are doing a commendable job. At the policy level, the federal government is taking important steps for the creation of a vibrant tech ecosystem. Startups have been exempted from income tax for the first three years. Similarly government plans to invest Rs2 billion for building an e-payment gate way in Pakistan which will facilitate all kind of e-commerce transactions. According to some sources, government is also planning to create a publicly funded venture capital fund to support the startups.

The third important pillar of the tech eco system is startup competitions and non-profits striving to foster the culture of entrepreneurship. In Pakistan, theres been a lot of activity going on in this domain. The most important competition is the startup weekend which is a global competition having local chapters in every country and city respectively. Then there is [emailprotected] ICT awards, startup cup, MIT enterprise forum Pakistan and others. Recently, Karandaaz Pakistan, a non-profit funded by UKAID, organised the Pakistan Fin tech disrupt challenge in which the winner, creditfix, got a prize money of US$100,000. There are notable non-profits working in this domain such as Pakistan Innovation Foundation, Invest 2 Innovate and others. Along with these non-profits, successful Pakistani entrepreneurs from Pakistani diaspora have also formed organisations such as TIE (the Indus entrepreneurs) and OPEN (Organisation of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America) which support entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.

The fourth and the most vital pillar of the tech ecosystem is the angel investment networks and venture capital industry. In Pakistan, a lot of development has been made since 2014 in this regard, particularly in the domain of angel investments. The old industrialist class is now giving attention to this new vehicle of investment which can give them much higher returns than their traditional industries but still they are so less in number that can be counted on the tip of your fingers. Two of them are based in Lahore namely Cres ventures founded by Mr Humayun Mazhar and Fatima Ventures of Fatima group. Along with that, Dot zero ventures which is a group of tech industry veterans and Planet N are supporting the nascent tech startups in Karachi. Some others groups or individuals are also slowly emerging such as Sarmaayacar which is a group of Pakistani IT veterans from abroad; they have recently invested a considerable amount in Patari, Pakistans premium online music portal.

However, ironically, there are no venture capital companies in Pakistan which are necessary to take the startups to the next level in their lifecycle. According to the Pakistani entrepreneurship ecosystem report, there are now less venture capital funds operating in Pakistan than 2014, as DYL ventures and Impakt Capital have not invested since 2014. The only venture capital fund which has opened shop in Pakistan recently is 47 ventures, managed by Mr Khurram Zafar, Executive Director LCE (LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship) and this venture capital fund plans to invest a hefty sum of money in Pakistani startups. The scanty of venture capital companies in Pakistan represents a problem for Pakistan based startups as they have less funding available after the seed stage. However, some have been able to secure funding from regional venture capital firms e.g. Frontier Digital Ventures of Malaysia invested in the property portal,zameen.pk.

Given the present scenario, Pakistans startup ecosystem is inevitably making a stride towards success. We hope one day, some Pakistani startups will be able to achieve what former Pakistani entrepreneurs have been unable to do; to scale globally and form large multinationals spanning across regions and continents.

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Pakistan's tech eco system an overview - Pakistan Today

Startups make almost 70 per cent of the IT eco system in Goa – The Navhind Times

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Launched recently in April 2017, the Goa Technology Association (GTA) is the first representative body of the local IT industry. Here Mangirish Salelkar, president, GTA, talks of the association objectives of fast tracking growth of local companies. He says to Team B&C that, plans are afoot to collaborate with the department of technical education (DTE) to upgrade the syllabus of engineering colleges.

Q: How does the GTA plan to put forward the cause of IT units in the state?

The primary goal of this association is to uplift the industry which has been ignored and taken for granted all this while. GTA now has membership of 70 plus tech companies based in Goa. Our aim is to work along with the government and educate them about the current IT ecosystem and bring forward the world class services and products developed by these companies. We are closely working along with NASSCOM for building a healthy and productive ecosystem where every individual can grow. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has extended full support to GTA for conducting seminars and giving access to national and international trade fairs. We also aim to very soon work with the department of technical education (DTE) for upgrading their syllabus and helping the graduates to be industry ready.

Q: What is GTAs opinion on the initiatives taken by the government in attracting IT investors to the state?

GTAs initiative along with a strong IT policy coming from the government side will definitely boost this industry. It will definitely attract mid- sized companies and tech Entrepreneurs to choose Goa as their startup base. We are also working along with the government to draft a very simple yet industry friendly IT policy which will definitely help the existing IT companies who have sustained business in Goa inspite of all odds and also attract new tech players. This will in turn lead to a lot of job creation and also bring back lot of Goan IT talent who want to be back home.

Q: What do you think of the ecology for IT start-ups in the state?

GTA has recently done a survey to help the government know the strength of this IT ecosystem. The summarized data will be released shortly. However we realized that startups makes almost 70 per cent of this ecosystem. We need to understand that they are the future and they need to be mentored and incubated well for benefit of this state. Proper incubation facilities with plug and play model should be made easily available.

Q: Is Goa missing the IT bus?

Bangalore and Pune are in an overloaded bus, Those IT hubs are getting saturated. We need to think positive that our bus has just started with GTA as the driver. We will get the right resources onboard to fast track what we have missed. We seriously aim to take Goan IT industry to the next level and we will achieve it.

Q: What does GTA think of the Cyberage Scheme?

Sorry, we are aware of it. However we are not the right team to handle the situation or intervene. It is all to do with hardware vendors.

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Startups make almost 70 per cent of the IT eco system in Goa - The Navhind Times

Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson Set for UFC 214 in Anaheim … – MMA Today (blog)

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After months of being in limbo, UFC womens featherweightCristiane Cyborg Justino(17-1 1 NC, 2-0 UFC) finally has an opponent. MMA Today has learned that former Invicta FC and Strikeforce champion will be taking on current Invicta FC Featherweight Champion, Megan Anderson (8-2, 0-0 UFC), on July 29th at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California. For the past few months, Cyborg had made it apparent that she wasnt even sure that she would be getting on a card anytime soon. Likewise,Anderson had been calling for the fight all the while, but also had expressed the lack of progress innegotiations. After a few comments of reassurance in the media from UFC President Dana White, it appears that everything worked out well for all parties involved.

Cyborg is 2-0 in the UFC since joining the promotion a little over a year and a half ago, with TKO victories over Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg. Contributing to her 9-month layoff is a USADA suspension that was eventually turned into a TUE. On the other hand, Anderson is coming off a TKO win over then-champion Charmaine Tweet. The bout between the two combatants is expected to be the co-main event of UFC 214, with the main event being the long-awaited grudge match between UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Bones Jones.

Stay tuned to MMA Today for all of the latest rumors, updates and news concerning UFC 214 in Anaheim, CA.

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In emergency move, Ocean City, Md., bans bare breasts on beaches – USA TODAY

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Kids play in the waves in Ocean City, Md., during Memorial Day weekend 2016.(Photo: Megan Raymond photo)

OCEAN CITY, Md. Ocean City's Town Council clearly prohibited women appearing topless on the beach during an emergency session Saturday.

The newly refined ordinance states there is no constitutional right for an individual to appear in public nude or in a state of nudity."

The ordinance further states that, "Whatever personal right one has to be nude or in a state of nudity, that right becomes subject to government interest and regulation when one seeks to exercise it in public.

Unanimously passed by the council, the new ordinancetook effect immediately, clarifyingthat anyone showing the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering, would be violating the law and subject to a fine of up to $1,000.

Bare-chest activist plans to show up on Md. beaches

Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan said the emergency ordinance was a response to hundreds of calls and emails from residents and visitors, expressing their concerns over this issue.

The town points to misinformation in some media reports and social media postings that recently went viral.

Meehan said revising theordinance in an emergency session Saturday afternoon was necessary to provide clarity on the town's position.

Each year, thousands of families visit our beach to relax in an atmosphere free of this type of activity. We respect their rights, he said.

We will not allow women to be topless on our beach or on any public property within the city limits. We have never been a topless beach and we will not become a topless beach.

A town spokesperson explained that the ordinance would have no bearing on breastfeeding.

The question began last summer when the beach patrol wascontacted by an Eastern Shore resident,Chelsea Covington,who believed it was her legal right to bare her chest on the Ocean City beach.

Covingtonis an advocate for top freedom, the belief that women should be able to appear topless in public, as do men.

The issue over toplessness was previously sent to Worcester County States Attorney Beau Oglesby, who then sent a request for an opinion from the Maryland Attorney General.

However, the attorney generals opinion would be overruled by this ordinance should the twocontradict one another, the mayor said.

This order would still apply in the Town of Ocean City unless it were challenged in court, Meehan said. This is the ordinance that were going to enforce in the town.

Covington noted that federal courts elsewhere in the country have ruled against similar laws.

"Ocean City seems to feel that the Constitution does not apply to them, but a high court will decide," she said.

Article 46 of the Maryland Constitutionstates the law cannot give preferential treatment on the basis of sex or gender.

With no official word at the start of the tourism season from the state attorney general's office, the beach patrol issued a memo June 6to instruct lifeguards on how to deal with a potential complaint.

Town spokeswoman Jessica Waters said the "intent of the policy that is being reported on was strictly for our Beach Patrol employees. Lifeguards in Ocean City are expected to have their eyes on the ocean, as the safety of our swimmers is their first priority."

The town's police department would respond to calls of topless complaints, Waters said.

Carol Larkin, 70, of Ocean City, spoke in favor of the ordinance immediately prior to the councils vote.

She said she specifically bought a house in Ocean City so that she could bring her grandchildren to the beach there.

Id be ashamed to go on the beach, she said. Im not a prude, but theres a time and a place for that. If people choose that, God bless them, but this is supposed to be a family resort and I really want to retire and pass away here.

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