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Commemorative events are taking place around the country today

Commemorative events are taking place around the country today

COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS IN remembrance of people who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic will take place around the country today.

The day of remembrance and recognition will honour the some 6,600 people who have died with Covid as well as workers, volunteers, and the general public for their efforts over the past two years.

Globally, Covid-19 has killed over six million people since the outbreak of the virus in December 2019.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid, the World Health Organisation estimates the true death toll could be two to three times higher than official records suggest.

In Dublin‘s Merrion Square Park, a commemorative ceremony will take place at 2pm followed by performances from poets such as Paula Meehan and Theo Dorgan.

Meehan will read The Light Returning, a poem written out of the darkness of the Covid years as a gesture of hope and resilience, while Dorgan will read his translation of the poem into Irish, An Solas ag Filleadh.

There will be additional performances from Uilleann piper Fiadh Fitzpatrick and the Continuum Youth Choir, with participation from Dublin Civil Defence and Dublin Fire Brigade.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland said all are welcome to attend and “share in this collective moment of remembrance and reflection”.

“After a challenging two years and countless hardships faced, this event is an opportunity for the people of Dublin to come together and remember those we lost and to recognise those who guided us through the pandemic,” said Gilliand.

The ceremony, which should last about 40 minutes, will take place close to the South East Entrance of Merrion Square Park.

In Kildare, members of frontline services will take part in a special wreath-laying ceremony in the courtyard of Áras Chill Dara from 12pm.

Poet Dr Mary O’Donnell will read from her work reflecting over the last two years, and there will also be special musical performances by local musicians and performers.

The ceremony in Kilkenny will be held at the Bandstand, Canal Square at 3pm. Lead by councillor Fidelis Doherty, the ceremony will include performances from the Kilkenny Gospel Choir and will feature contributions from the clergy, and representatives from the HSE, Gardaí, and Fire Services.

For those in Co Laois, all are welcome to attend Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise from 5pm. The council said locals can expect poetry reading and music following a wreath-laying ceremony.

In Mayo, all are welcome to gather at the Mall Castlebar from 5pm to pay their respects.

Meanwhile, in Co Meath, a ceremony will take place in Buvinda House, Navan at 11am.

The council said: “Key elements of the event will include a formal wreath-laying ceremony, suitable poetry, readings and musical elements, with participation reflecting the diversity of the community.”

Tipperary County Council will hold a local ceremony in Holycross Park at 2pm. This event will also be live-streamed through council’s social media channels.

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On Thursday in Cork, the local authority held a remembrance ceremony at Guagán Barra.

Speaking after the event, Mayor of County Cork Gillian Coughlan said that while Covid-19 hasn’t gone away “we hope that the end is in sight”.

“Everyone struggled, many suffered, and some were tragically lost. This ceremony was a way for us to take time to pause, reflect on the past two years and remember all those who lost their lives since March of 2020. We couldn’t have our usual traditions and rituals which meant saying goodbye was even harder,” said Coulghan.

Our world became even smaller as some families faced the heartbreaking decision of having to select just ten mourners. However, communities rallied and paid their respects in other ways by lining the streets and joining services online. We supported our neighbours and as time passed, we all found within ourselves a bravery that we never realised we had….I believe that our communities will emerge stronger from all that we have experienced over the last two years.

During his St Patrick’s Day message, President Micheal D Higgins paid tribute to all those who lost their lives and to all the frontline workers across society.

Higgins said it was important that a deep sacrifice was paid by so many “and for whom the healing is hard to count”.

“We were reminded, as they spoke of their loss, time and again, that the warmth, awareness and cohesion of community remains an essential component of human life, that collective and public spirited human interaction are the essential elements that bind our communities together and form the essence of any true republic we may wish to achieve, now or in the future.”

Orla Keegan, the head of Education and Bereavement at the Irish Hospice Foundation, previously told The Journal that its bereavement helpline had received hundreds of calls when it was first set up in 2020.

Jonathan Stafford, Managing Director of Staffords Funeral Homes in Dublin, said funerals services were “just as difficult” if not harder for loved ones during the restrictions due to the limits on the number of mourners.

At times, only ten people were allowed to attend funeral services under Level 5 restrictions.

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Tickets on sale today for Ricochet at Heartland Events Center April 30

Tickets on sale today for Ricochet at Heartland Events Center April 30

Country group Ricochet, known for hits like “What Do I Know” and “Daddy’ Money,” will be taking the stage at the Heartland Events Center on Saturday, April 30.

Special guests include Tate Stevens and the Queens of Country. Show time is 7 p.m.; doors open at 6.

Reserved seat tickets are $20 (plus fees) and go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 17, through the HEC box office or online at etix.com

In 1996 the members of country super group Ricochet watched their debut single, “What Do I Know,” rise to the Top 5 earning the band the honor of the highest charting debut single of the year. Their follow-up release, “Daddy’s Money,” became an immediate across the board hit, rising to number 1 on the radio and records country singles chart.

The band’s distinctive musical style and intricate harmonies earned them the recognition as one of the most popular vocal groups in country music, a mantle they will wear today. “The Hardest Working Band in Country Music” is still going strong.

People are also reading…

Stevens is an American country music artist who won the second season of the “X-Factor,” winning a $5 million recording deal. After touring with a band for several years immediately after high school, Stevens returned to Raymore, Missouri, to settle down and raise his young family.

He joined a local band in 2005 and formed his own band in 2008, releasing an independent album and touring on weekends and holidays. In early 2012, he auditioned for “The X Factor,” progressing through the various stages of the competition, until winning on Dec. 20, 2012. He released his debut album in 2013.

Queens of Country hail from Kansas City, Missouri, and sing hit songs from the likes of Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Patsy Cline and others. Queens of Country take the audience on a musical trip through 50 years of favorite female artists.

For more information on Ricochet, visit https://www.ricochetonline.com.

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Today, France Lifts COVID Passport Requirement for Access in Most Venues & Events – SchengenVisaInfo.com

Today, France Lifts COVID Passport Requirement for Access in Most Venues & Events - SchengenVisaInfo.com

Today, March 14, France has lifted the obligation to be vaccinated in order to access most venues and events in the country, upon an evaluation that the Coronavirus situation permits for such a step to be taken.

The move was announced ten days ago in a press release issued by the French government, which also revealed that the obligation to carry a mask in most places in France would also be lifted from March 14.

After a fifth wave of COVID-19 of unprecedented magnitude, the health situation has improved markedly for several weeks. In particular, the pressure weighing on hospitals due to the epidemic is greatly reduced, allowing the lifting of white plans and a gradual resumption of scheduled activities,” the government noted in its announcement.

The same points out that the relaxation of these measures is in line with the strategy of the government to keep effective only the necessary measures in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 and abolish those without any noticeable effect.

Thus, starting from today, March 14, places and events like restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, performance halls, stadiums, fairs and exhibitions, interregional transport, etc., can be accessed without proof of vaccination.

The move will, amongst others, enable professional tennis player Novak Djokovic to defend the Ronald Garros title at the French Open, which is set to be held from May 22 to June 5. Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, has previously shared his position to risk not participating in the tournament and remain unvaccinated, claiming it is a “price that I’m willing to pay”.

The requirement will, however, remain effective in places like hospitals, retirement homes, and establishments for the disabled in order to continue protecting the most vulnerable from the virus.

When we have emptied intensive care units, or at least (…) when there is no further cancellation of procedures and if no new variant is in circulation, then the utility of the vaccine pass will be debatable,” French Health Minister Olivier Véran had said at the beginning of the month regarding the removal of the health pass requirement for access in these places, in an interview for BFM TV.

The obligation to wear a mask, which has already been abolished for outdoor spaces since February 28, has also been lifted today. The obligation will remain effective only for public transport until further notice.

On March 3, SchengenVisaInfo.com also reported that the French authorities had expanded the green list of countries in order to permit more travellers to enter France restriction-free. The countries added to the list are Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Canada, Comoros, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Travellers from the green list can enter France without being subject to any restrictions even if they have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

>> France Invalidates Nearly 4 Million COVID Vaccination Certificates

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India Genocide Summit 2022: Dr Gregory Stanton’s 3-day event begins today

The Siasat Daily: Latest Hyderabad News, Telangana, Entertainment, India

Witnessing the increasing hostilities and intolerance towards Muslims in the country, the President of Genocide Watch Dr. Gregory Stanton, who had predicted the Rwandan genocide, has time and again warned that something similar could happen in India if stern action isn’t taken.

Amidst growing communal tensions in the country over the last few months, with elections ongoing in various states including Uttar Pradesh, incidents of hate towards minorities in an attempt to polarise voters have been on the rise. Incidents and reports of hate crimes including speech, acts of violence, etc have been surfacing on social media.

To prevent further atrocities and possible genocide against Muslims in India, The Genocide Watch is organising a summit ‘India on The Brink’ to discuss instances of hate crimes against Muslims.

MS Education Academy

Registration for the summit can be done at no cost through the official website of India On The Brink.

The three-day online summit comprising some of the most prominent names that have been an active part of the movement against a possible Muslim genocide in the country will take place between February 26-28.

Teesta Selvada, Adama Dieng, Ayesha Renaa, Aakar Patel, Safoora Zargar, Alishan Jafri, Kaushik Raj, and Subashri Krishnan, are among the prominent guest speakers of the event.

The summit that begins on February 26 will discuss the Gujarat riots of 2002, which is a reminder of the genocide that took place in Gujarat in 2002, and will discuss the struggles for justice, the impunity of the perpetrators, and the complicity of the state.

The three-day event will commemorate and remember various major atrocities against Muslims the current situation and issues within the country and the way to move forward, to prevent a Muslim Genocide.

The raging hijab row of Karnataka, Hindu response to majoritarian violence, Assam’s Nellie Massacre of 1983, Whatsapp as a weapon of Hate speech and violence, Islamophobia, will also be discussed.

Who is Gregory H. Stanton

Gregory H. Stanton is a former Research Professor in Genocide Studies and Prevention at George Mason University in the US. He is world-renowned for his work in the area of genocide studies. He is the founder and president of Genocide Watch, the founder and director of the Cambodian Genocide Project and the Chair of the Alliance Against Genocide. From 2007 to 2009 he was the President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

What is Genocide Watch?

Genocide Watch has been created to predict, prevent, stop, and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder. It seeks to raise awareness and influence public policy concerning potential and actual genocide. They attempt to build an international movement to prevent and stop genocide.

Genocide Watch is the coordinating organization of The Alliance Against Genocide (AAG), an international coalition of organizations. The AAG aims to educate the general public and policymakers about the causes, processes, and warning signs of genocide; to create the institutions and political will to prevent and stop genocide, and to bring perpetrators of genocide to justice.

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Events sector displeased by leaked Covid relaxations; Outbreak Team meeting today

Events sector displeased by leaked Covid relaxations; Outbreak Team meeting today

The Outbreak Management Team, which advises the Cabinet on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, will meet again on Friday. The members will likely talk about the possibility of relaxing coronavirus restrictions. Some of the Cabinet’s plans leaked on Thursday, prompting pleased reactions from the catering and cultural sectors but not from the events sector.

Sources told Dutch media that the Cabinet is considering extending closing times from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and scrapping social distancing in the catering industry as long as guests have a fixed seat. The advice to work from home will be removed. People may be allowed to receive an unlimited number of guests at home. And festivals and major events may be allowed again if everyone is tested beforehand and attendees have fixed seats at events larger than 500 people.

The Cabinet will only make a formal decision about the relaxations on Tuesday, followed by a press conference by Health Minister Ernst Kuipers.

Danny Damman, director of the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, is “shocked” by the fixed seats for events with 500 meters condition. The concert hall in Amsterdam can accommodate about 17,000 people. If everyone has to be seated, a lot fewer people can fit in the room.

“Then I fear that some renters will think: rather not, never mind,” said Damman. “If this is the decision, I’m afraid some renters will think: that doesn’t fit the character of the event.” It may be “a bottleneck” to opening, he thinks. “If you go to a cabaret show, you can let people sit. The theaters are fantastically helped with this. But the large halls with standing events are not.”

Damman and Jolanda Jansen, general manager of Rotterdam Ahoy and spokesperson for the Alliance of Event Builders, wonder about the logic behind this decision. “Why are you allowed to stand up to 500 people, but not above that?” asked Jansen. Berend Schans of the Dutch Poppodia and Festivals Association agrees. “That means that you can dance in the Ekko in Utrecht, but not in Paradiso in Amsterdam. That’s wrong.”

The cinema and theater sector is “thrilled” with the planned relaxation. Especially the scrapping of social distancing and extended opening times. “If these leaked relaxations are correct, I will be very happy,” said Boris van der Ham, chairman of the Dutch Association of Cinemas and Film Theaters and the Dutch Association of Free Theater Producers. Van der Ham emphasized that many of the requirements, like fixed seats, are already met in the cinema and theater sector. They can also easily comply with the closing time: theater performances and cinema films always end at 1:00 a.m.

Van der Ham hopes that the Cabinet will help the theater sector get started. “You don’t just open a theater as you do at a cinema. The cast has to get back in shape, rehearse. That takes time and money.” That is why Van der Ham hopes that the Cabinet will come up with some form of financial support. “You can’t break even in this sector right away because the halls will probably not be full right away.”

The 1:00 a.m. closing time will be good for regular restaurants. But “this means nothing for the night catering industry,” said Rober Willemsen of hospitality association KHN. “The government is now pretending to do something for them, but that is not the case.”

The longer opening hours were discussed in talks with the Ministries last week, said Willemsen. The government was also already determined to stick to the plan to open nightclubs and discotheques with mandatory pre-testing, he said. But the KHN sees nothing in that. “The target group of the night catering industry has not been boosted and will not be tested. Then they go to illegal parties, and you have no control over that at all.”

Teenagers and people in their 20s are also not at risk of severe symptoms if they do get the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Willemsen emphasized. The KHN, therefore, wants to open the nightclubs and discos with a coronavirus access pass. “But if the restrictions disappear, that obligation must also be removed quickly.”

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Olympics Schedule Today: How to Watch, Stream Tuesday Night’s Events

Olympics Schedule Today: How to Watch, Stream Tuesday Night's Events

Team USA finally has one gold medal, but Wednesday night will bring some of its biggest chances to add to that count, with snowboarding star Chloe Kim hitting the slopes and skating sensation Nathan Chen taking the ice.

Here’s what to watch in the next 24 hours in Beijing and how you can watch it live.

Snowboarding

Team USA’s Chloe Kim is headed to the final in the women’s snowboard halfpipe after topping the qualification stage with a score of 87.75.

Each athlete has two runs to score the maximum points possible in the qualifying round.

Kim was one of the 12 competitors to make it through to the final, and the only American.

The women’s snowboarding halfpipe final kicks off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Men’s snowboard cross finals also begin at 12 a.m. CST.

Figure Skating

Team USA could get its first figure skating gold of the 2022 Winter Olympics Wednesday.

With gold-medal favorite Nathan Chen returning to the ice and local star Jason Brown vying for his shot at Olympic medal, the men’s individual program will come to an end with the free skate.

An American man hasn’t won a medal in the singles event since 2010, when Evan Lysacek took home the gold for Team USA in the event.

Date/Time (CT) Event TV/Streaming
Wed | Feb 9 | 7:30 p.m. 🏅 Men’s Singles Free Skate NBC, USA | PeacockNBCOlympics.com

Skeleton

Men’s skeleton heats one and two will begin at 7:30 pm CST. South Korea’s defending gold medalist Yun Sung-bin, and Latvia’s six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medalist Martins Dukuers, are ones to look out for. However, at the last three Olympics, the skeleton gold has gone to the host nation, so keep an eye on China’s Yan Wengang and Chen Wenhao.

Fans can stream skeleton events on NBCOlympics.com and on Peacock.

Alpine Skiing

Men’s combined slalom for alpine skiing, another medal event, takes place at 12:15 a.m. CST.

Curling

The men’s round-robin matchup between USA and Sweden will begin at 12:05 a.m. CST. Watch Team USA defend its gold medal, led by captain John Schuster, Chris Plys, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner and Colin Hufman.

The women’s round-robin between USA and Denmark will begin at 6:05 a.m. CST, featuring Tabitha Peterson, Nina Roth, Becca Hamilton, Tara Peterson and Aileen Geving.

Women’s Round Robin ROC vs USA 2/9/2022 7:05 p.m. CNBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, DEN vs CHN 2/9/2022 7:05 p.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, GBR vs SUI 2/9/2022 7:05 p.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, SWE vs JPN 2/9/2022 7:05 p.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Men’s Round Robin, CHN vs ROC 2/10/2022 12:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Men’s Round Robin, GBR vs ITA 2/10/2022 12:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Men’s Round Robin, NOR vs CAN 2/10/2022 12:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Men’s Round Robin, USA vs SWE 2/10/2022 12:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, CAN vs KOR 2/10/2022 6:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, CHN vs SUI 2/10/2022 6:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, SWE vs GBR 2/10/2022 6:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
Women’s Round Robin, USA vs DEN 2/10/2022 6:05 a.m. Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Cross-Country Skiing

The women’s classical (10 km.) for cross-country skiing kicks off at 1 a.m. CST.

Freestyle Skiing

We have the mixed team aerials for freestyle skiing at 5 a.m. CST.

Speed Skating

Women’s 5000m speed skate takes place at 6 a.m. CST.

Luge

The luge team relays begin at 7:30 a.m. CST.

Men’s Hockey

The men’s prelim hockey game between USA and China will take place at 7:10 a.m. CST.

Hockey fans can stream hockey events on NBCOlympics.com and on Peacock.

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Olympics Schedule Today: How to Watch, Stream Tuesday Night’s Events

Olympics Schedule Today: How to Watch, Stream Tuesday Night's Events

Some of the biggest names on Team USA will be competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics Tuesday night.

Stars like Shaun White, Chloe Kim, Mikaela Shiffrin, John Shuster and more will take to the slopes and ice as they begin their quests for an Olympic medal.

Team USA still has not won gold in Beijing, but could that soon change? There are seven medal events coming up.

Here’s what to watch in the next 24 hours in Beijing and how you can watch it live.

Snowboarding

The women’s halfpipe qualifying event will begin at 7:30 p.m. CST and the men’s halfpipe qualifying event will begin at 10:30 p.m. CST. For the women, USA’s Chloe Kim is one to look out for, as she is trying to defend her 2018 gold medal. And for the men, three-time gold medalist Shaun White, is the highest on our radar.

Snowboarding fans can stream snowboarding events on NBCOlympics.com and on Peacock or watch live on NBC primetime and USA.

Women’s snowboard cross qualifying will also begin at 9 p.m. CST. Women’s snowboard cross finals start at 12:30 a.m. CST.

Alpine Skiing

Mikaela Shiffrin will look to rebound after exiting the women’s giant slalom faster than anyone expected. Shiffrin’s next event is the slalom, which begins Tuesday night in the United States.

Freestyle Skiing

The medal events begin with men’s big air final in freestyle skiing. That event begins at 9 p.m. CT.

Three Americans have qualified for the big air final, including Alex Hall, Mac Forehand and Colby Stevenson. At this point, all the athletes are ones to watch. Watch live on NBC primetime and Peacock or stream below.

Nordic Combined

The men’s individual normal hill for Nordic combined will take place at 1 a.m. CST with the final set to begin at 5 a.m. Germany’s Eric Frenzel is the defending gold medalist, so he is definitely the one to keep an eye on.

Skiing fans can stream skiing events on NBCOlympics.com and on Peacock.

Short Track

Next up, we have the men’s and women’s short track (1500m, 1000m and 3000m) relays, which will begin at 5 a.m. CST

Luge

All doubles runs for luge will round out the competition, taking place at 6:20 a.m. CST.

Curling

Men’s curling begins with Wisconsin stars, including U.S. flag bearer John Shuster and Matt Hamilton taking the ice for their first competition.