Battling COVID-19, South Africa prepares for first vaccines
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Battling a COVID-19 resurgence driven by a more infectious variant, South Africa is preparing to roll out its first vaccines to the country’s frontline healthcare workers. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said a delivery of 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to arrive at Johannesburg’s international airport on Monday and there are plans for jabs to be given to doctors and nurses starting in mid-February. Mkhize said South Africa intends to vaccinate 67% of its 60 million people in 2021, starting with the most vulnerable health care workers.
During the fresh-vegetable season, from my family of four, I’ve been putting about 14pounds of kitchen materials a week on my compost pile. Most kitchen scraps may be used, too, except for animal fat, bones and milk products. You can hasten the decomposition if you turn the pile every few weeks. If you don’tchoose to turn it or can’t, don’t worry — it will still decompose. It will take longer, butwhat’s time to compost? On top of this, spread one cup of complete garden fertilizer or a couple of shovelfuls ofmanure. You can also add a light layer of soil. The best activator for compost is oldcompost. Normally, five to eight months will be required to finish compost, depending on thematerial used and the heat and moisture available during the composting period. Fall is a great time for composting because of the abundance of leaves to add to the pile. Compost is ready for use when the material turns dark and becomes crumbly. Finishedcompost will have lost much of its original identity and will have an “earthy” smell. These include coffee and tea grounds, eggshells, peelings of vegetables and fruits, canningby-products such as tomato peels, apple peelings and cores and corn husks. Kitchen Compostables Continue to alternate layers. As each is complete, water it thoroughly. Keep the pile moist,but not soggy. If you don’t want to use anything at all, just pile up the composting material. That willwork, too. Just think how much each family is putting into the landfill from the kitchen. Thesematerials are completely degradable in the compost pile within four to six weeks. The size will vary with the amount of material, but any size smaller than 3 feet wide by 3feet high isn’t recommended. It’s too small to heat up and decompose the materialproperly. What to Compost When those beautiful autumn leaves have blown from the trees and become unsightlybrown masses in your lawn, don’t fret and don’t burn. Simply build a pile and recycle theleaves through the composting process. When you clean up the garden, yard, flower beds or other outside areas, don’t forget thatalmost all of this plant material, too, can be added to the compost pile. I just dig a small hole in the compost pile, place the materials four to five inches deep andcover them with leaves, grass clippings or other plant materials. Then I continue thatprocess clockwise around the pile. To learn more about composting, contact your county extension agent. Containing the Pile Some type of enclosure to contain the material is best. But the sides of the bin shouldallow free air movement into the material. The best bin material is probably2-inch-by-4-inch dog fencing 3 feet high. Good compost is especially useful for improving soils that are low in organic matter.Although it does add some nutrients, the main benefit of compost is improving the soil’sphysical condition. Building the Pile Using Compost Almost all organic material may be used: sod, grass clippings, leaves, hay, straw, someweeds, chopped corn cobs, corn stalks, sawdust, newspapers, etc. Avoid weeds and grassplants that have developed seed heads. For ease of handling, it’s best, too, not to go over 5 feet by 5 feet by 5 feet. Size of Compost Pile Simple rules to follow in composting: Apply the compost to garden soil at the rate of four bushels per 100 square feet. You don’t have to build the pile all at once. Begin by spreading an 8- to 12-inch layer oforganic material over the area.
68SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr You’re nearing or are in your 40s, and you’re likely making a little more money now than your 30-year-old self. You’re feeling more set in your career. Or maybe you’re in the middle of a reinvention because you finally have the resources to do so. (And yes, there is still time for that.)Whatever the case, you’re likely facing some new life changes. Twins? A bigger house? A new marriage? Retirement is still decades away, but starting to feel a bit more tangible. Basically, you’re experiencing the types of changes that should require you to revisit your finances and seek guidance.Here are some milestones to aim for:1. Max out your retirement contributions: Ramping up retirement savings now is especially important if you feel as if you didn’t save enough earlier in your career, says Christopher Girbes-Pierce, a financial adviser based in Santa Monica, Calif. “Retirement doesn’t feel nearly as far away as it did in your 20s and 30s,” he says.If you aren’t already making the maximum contribution into your retirement account (for 2015, you can contribute a maximum of $18,000 to your 401(k) plan), now is the time to establish the habit, Girbes-Pierce says. The task may be more feasible in your 40s, a time when you may be nearing your peak earnings, he says. continue reading »
For all the Latest Sports News News, Football News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Liverpool: Cenk Tosun’s header eight minutes into stoppage time salvaged a 1-1 draw for Everton against Tottenham in a match overshadowed by a broken ankle suffered by Everton midfielder Andre Gomes. Spurs’ Son Heung-min was shown a straight red card for his foul on the Portuguese international, but the injury occurred as Gomes’s momentum saw him crash into Serge Aurier. “It is a bad moment for us as a group and as a team. It’s more than a football game, this is the most important thing right now,” said Everton manager Marco Silva. Tottenham led 1-0 at that stage thanks to Dele Alli’s strike just after the hour mark. The injury to Gomes proved a turning point with Son visibly upset even before he was shown a red card. “He (Son) is devastated and in tears,” said Alli. “It’s not his fault. Son is one of nicest people you’ve ever met. He can’t even lift his head up, he’s crying so much.” Later Sunday, Everton confirmed the 26-year-old former Barcelona star Gomes had broken his right ankle and will undergo surgery on Monday. “Everton Football Club can confirm Andre Gomes will undergo surgery after sustaining an ankle injury in today’s game with Tottenham Hotspur,” the Merseysiders said in a statement. “After undergoing hospital tests, it was confirmed he had suffered a fracture dislocation to his right ankle. The club will provide further updates in due course.”Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said his club had the utmost sympathy for Gomes. “We feel very sorry,” he said. “Was a really bad situation, very bad luck how he landed in the action. “We can only send our best wishes and (we are) devastated for the situation.” However, Pochettino believed the red card shown to Son was harsh, particularly as referee Martin Atkinson had first produced a yellow card prior to seeing Gomes’s injury. “I cannot agree with the red card of Sonny,” added Pochettino. “VAR must help the referee, I don’t know what is going on and what happens with this tool. Rather than help the referee it is creating more confusion.” Both managers were left frustrated at the use of VAR as both sides saw a strong penalty claim turned down in the second half despite a lengthy delay to review the incidents. Poor starts First Tottenham were denied as Son was upended by Yerry Mina with the score at 0-0 and then, after Alli opened the scoring, the England midfielder escaped unpunished from a handball inside his own box. “I think the referee needs to go to the screen and check like in other leagues. It’s the referee that needs to take the decision not the VAR from I don’t know where,” said Pochettino. A point does little to improve a poor start to the season for either side with Everton still hovering just one place above the relegation zone, while Spurs remain in the bottom half in 11th with 13 points from their first 11 games.Tottenham hit the Toffees for six on their last visit to Goodison Park last December, but their fall off in form over the past year was in evidence in a dismal first 45 minutes in which neither side threatened to open the scoring. Spurs badly missed the absent Harry Kane through illness, but were gifted the opener when Alex Iwobi handed possession to Son and the South Korean fed Alli to fire past England international teammate Jordan Pickford.Also Read | Raheem Sterling Sparkles As Manchester City See Off Aston VillaSon’s joy soon turned to anguish when he slid on Gomes 12 minutes from time as he had to be consoled by players from both sides when he saw the extent of Gomes’s injury. Everton still struggled to make their man advantage count in what proved to be the final 24 minutes with 12 minutes added due to the VAR reviews and medical attention for Gomes. But Tosun was in the right place to power home an equaliser and deny Tottenham a first away win in the Premier League since January.