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Missing 81-year-old Auckland man found safe and well

by www.stuff.co.nz Leave a Comment

An 81-year-old Auckland man who had been missing since Friday afternoon has been found.

Police said Robert Taylor left his Mt Roskill home about 3.30pm on Friday.

Police had concerns for his wellbeing due to some health issues.

However, he was later found “safe and well”, police said in a statement on Saturday.

“Police would like to thank all those who got in touch with potential sightings.”

Another man who went missing in Auckland this week is yet to be found.

Police are appealing for sightings of 71-year-old Remus Jackson , who was last seen around 7.30am Wednesday on Pah Rd, Epsom.

Police are very concerned for his welfare as he has a medical condition and requires regular medication.

If anyone knows where Jackson is or sees him, they are asked to contact police on 105, quoting file number 210414/4538.

Stuff

Four Generations Of Audi RS6 Host A Family Reunion In A Drag Race

by www.motor1.com Leave a Comment

A family reunion without awkward questions. Good.

Most enthusiasts love station wagons and let’s face it, Audi is one of the reasons why performance long-roofs have become a want among car nuts. And when it comes to Audi performance wagons, the RS4 and RS6 Avant models should be the first names to come to mind.

We’ve seen a drag race between RS4 Avant generations before , now it’s time to see four generations of the bigger go-fast estates go head-to-head in a straight-line race. Of course, the video’s from Carwow , which hosted the previous RS4 drag race two years ago.

Gallery: 2021 Audi RS6 Avant: Review

Before starting with the video above, let us give you a backgrounder for each contender in this drag race .

The oldest of the bunch is the C5 generation of the RS6, which is powered by a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 engine that makes 444 horsepower (331 kilowatts) and 428 pound-feet (580 Newton-meters) of torque.

Next is the C6 generation, equipped with a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V10 mill that’s similar to what you’ll see behind the seats of the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracan . It makes a healthy 571 hp (426 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.

RS6 Avant In Straight-Line Races:

First introduced in 2013, the C7 generation is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, and this Performance version produces 597 hp (445 kW) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) torque, which is more than what the non-Performance current model makes. Lastly. the C8 is also propelled by a twin-turbo V8 that churns out 591 hp (441 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque.

All these estates are equipped with Quattro all-wheel-drive with varying transmission types. The oldest RS6 Avant C5 is the lightest of the bunch, while the heaviest is the latest C8 that tips the scales at 4,740 pounds (2,150 kilograms).

With these numbers laid out, which do you think won the drag race? And what can you say about the results? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]

China operationalises its biosecurity law, to build more bio labs

by www.oneindia.com Leave a Comment

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Beijing, Apr 17: China has operationalised its new biosecurity law to fortify the legal cover for the establishment and safe operation of more bio labs in the country amidst questions whether the COVID-19 originated from such a laboratory in Wuhan.

The coronavirus emerged in China’s central Wuhan city in December 2019 and became a pandemic, upending life across the globe.

Under the new Biosecurity Law, China will continue to build and approve more labs specialising in advanced pathogenic microbiology with a scrupulous and scientific manner, the country’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Xiang Libin said.

China will carry out major scientific research to enhance its biosecurity science and technological capacity against future infectious diseases, state-run Global Times quoted Xiang as saying.

Is there a more dangerous virus than corona present at the Wuhan lab of China? Is there a more dangerous virus than corona present at the Wuhan lab of China?

The ministry has examined and approved the construction of three biosafety level-4 labs, or P4 labs, and 88 biosafety level-3 labs, or P3 labs, in China, he said.

A biosafety level (BSL), or pathogen/protection level, is a set of biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed laboratory facility.

The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) to the highest at level 4 (BSL-4).

Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in April last year that China had two P4 labs besides 81 P3 labs in operation or approved for construction.

In contrast, the US has 12 P4 and 1,500 P3 labs, the Global Times report said.

Bio labs acquired significance as the US has alleged that the COVID-19 may have emanated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) which is a P-4 bio lab. China has strongly denied the charge.

A team of WHO experts, which probed the origin of the coronavirus, concluded last month that “all hypotheses” included the allegation that COVID-19 could have emanated from a bio lab “remained open”.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while receiving the report of the international experts’ team which visited Wuhan, said on March 30 that “as far as the WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table”.

“This report is a very important beginning, but it is not the end. We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do,” he said.

Significantly, Mr Ghebreyesus said the team has concluded that leak from the WIV as alleged by former US president Donald Trump is the “least likely hypothesis” but it requires further probe.

China dodges WHO's call for probe into Wuhan lab leak theory of coronavirus China dodges WHO’s call for probe into Wuhan lab leak theory of coronavirus

“The team also visited several laboratories in Wuhan and considered the possibility that the virus entered the human population as a result of a laboratory incident.”

“However, I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough. Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions,” he said.

“Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy,” the WHO chief added.

Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times on Thursday that the law on biosafety is a timely move for China to detail the construction and management of biosafety labs and provide a legal shield for scientific projects on biosafety, including infectious diseases, to be carried out in a scrupulous and professional manner.

According to John Hopkins coronavirus tracker, China has so far reported 102,152 cases and 4,845 deaths. Globally the contagion has infected 139,228,122 people and killed 29,89,103, it said.

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UP panchayat election 2021: Over 60 per cent votes cast in the first phase of polling

by zeenews.india.com Leave a Comment

Lucknow: The first round of the four-phased Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections on Thursday (April 15) till 5 pm, with an hour of polling, still remaining, witnessed over 60 per cent of polling. According to the State Election Commission, four people suffered minor injuries in a clash between two groups at a booth in Agra, but the polling was largely peaceful in the state.

“Till 5 pm, 61 per cent votes were cast. While the maximum 69.75 per cent votes were cast in Jhansi, Shravasti witnessed 53 per cent polling. All those who come to vote till 6 pm will be allowed to vote,” the State Election Commission (SEC) told PTI.

In the first phase of polls , more than 3.33 lakh candidates were in the fray in over 2.21 lakh seats for the posts of Zila panchayat (district council) members, kshetra (block) panchayat members, village panchayat heads, and wards.

The polling , which was done with ballot papers, was held in the 18 districts of Ayodhya, Agra, Kanpur , Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur , Jhansi, Allahabad, Bareilly, Bhadohi, Mahoba, Rampur, Raebareli, Shravasti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Saharanpur, Hardoi and Hathras.

A total of 11,442 candidates are in the fray from 779 wards for the post of Zila panchayat members in the first phase, while 81,747 candidates are contesting in 19,313 wards of kshetra panchayats. For the gram panchayat, there are 1,14,142 candidates for 14,789 posts. For gram panchayat wards, there are 1,26,613 candidates for 1,86,583 seats.

Meanwhile, four people were injured and two ballot boxes were snatched in the clash between two groups in Rihawali village of Agra Rural constituency, SP (East) Ashok Venkat told PTI. He said the clash broke out between supporters of candidates fighting for the gram pradhan post following which the two ballot boxes were snatched away.

SSP (Agra) Muniraj told reporters that eight people have been arrested so far and further probe is on. District Magistrate Prabhu Narayan Singh, however, said that he would request for repolling at the affected booth.

In Jhansi, polling officer Nirmala Sahu, posted at Jauri Bujurg, a polling center in Badagaon block, died after she complained of uneasiness, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), City, Vivek Tripathi reportedly said.

The woman died before she could be rushed to hospital, the ASP said, adding that the exact cause of her death could be ascertained after post-mortem.

Notably, the panchayat polls are also seen as a semi-final to the 2022 state assembly election.

Apart from parties like the BJP, Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, and the Congress, among those in the race are the AIMIM, Aam Aadmi Party, and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad’s Azad Samaj Party, which are making their debut in the state. The AIMIM is contesting the polls with the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party.

The voting for the second phase will be on April 19, the third on April 26, and the fourth phase on April 29, while the votes will be counted on May 2 along with the assembly election results of five states.

The voting percentage in all 18 districts till 5 pm is given below. Jhansi district witnessed the highest polling (69.75%) and the lowest was at Shravasti (53.80%).

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Crude to be around $60 a barrel in 2021

by auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com Leave a Comment

Global crude oil prices are expected to be in the range of $60 a barrel over the long term period as OPEC+ decision to cap supply until demand recovers and the pandemic continuing to keep a check on consumption.

According to a research report by ICICI Securities , Brent has recovered and is over $ 60/bbl since February, 21 vs April, 20 low of $ 21/bbl driven by demand recovery from lows and OPEC+ capping supply to ensure supply deficit since July last year.

“OPEC+ capping supply until demand recovers is estimated to ensure supply deficit of 1.3 million barrels of oil per day in calendar year 2021 and keep Brent above $60/bbl,” the brokerage said.

The expectation for the crude was that it may surge in 2021 on the back of economies recovering as vaccinations tamed the spread of Covid-19. But the lockdowns again due to fresh surge in Covid cases have delayed demand recovery in Europe.

Also, the probability of US sanctions on Iran’s oil exports being lifted appears to have increased substantially. EU and other signatories to the nuclear deal are talking to Iran and US separately to bring them on the same page and revive the deal. Indications are that US sanctions on Iran exports may be lifted as early as before Iran’s presidential elections due on June 18.

“While OPEC+ capping supply should keep Brent above $ 60/bbl, delay in demand recovery and US lifting sanctions on Iran exports would cap further rise. We estimate long-term Brent at $60/bbl,” ICICI Securities said.

With regard to gross refining margins (GRMs), the outlook is modest as capacity addition is expected to exceed to refined products demand growth. Besides, hit to demand from Covid worsened the outlook. Before the Covid hit, BP Plc estimated that global liquids demand would rise by 10m b/d, but demand for refined products would grow by just 3m b/d by CY40. 9m b/d of refining capacity is under construction or planned mainly in China, India and Middle East.

Rising US and China petroleum product exports, which has hurt GRM in the past, would continue to hurt GRM in the future, too. US shale revolution, which has led to WTI prices being at significant discount to Brent and Dubai, has made US refineries very competitive and made the US a net exporter of petroleum products since CY11.

China’s auto fuel exports have been up YoY in the last seven years. The quest to reduce its petrochemical imports has led to China building large refining-cum-petrochemical complexes.

With IEA estimating global refined products demand recovering to above pre-Covid levels in CY23E, hit to demand from Covid appears to have worsened the outlook for GRM, the report said.

However, vaccine-driven recovery in global oil demand and permanent closure of refineries is estimated to boost global refinery utilisation to 77.8 per cent in CY21E from a 37-year low of 72.5 per cent in CY20E.

Estimate suggests that global refinery utilisation to gradually rise from 79.1 per cent in CY22E to 80 per cent in CY26E. IEA estimates permanent closure of 3.6m b/d of refining capacity but believes 6m b/d is required to ensure global refinery utilisation is sustainably above 80 per cent.

Read more on crude oil:

Oil edges higher on Mideast tension, likely crude stocks drawdown

Brent crude oil futures was up 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $63.37 a barrel by 0055 GMT while U.S. crude oil futures gained 11 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $59.81 a barrel