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This story shows how NASA's Mars rover Perseverance landed on Mars after covering 127 million miles. The $2.7 billion Mars Rover mission is the result of a decade's work and was launched in July 2020.

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British prime minister Boris Johnson says he is cutting down on carbohydrates, chocolate and late night cheese, and urges Britain to take up healthy diets. In a video posted on Twitter he says he is "doing everything I can to lose weight, and to feel fitter and healthier. I've been eating less carbs, avoiding chocolate, no more late night cheese."

As a result of the new lifestyle and eating habits which includes taking early morning runs, he says he feels a lot more energetic and healthier, "I feel full of beans" as he calls it using the British expression, and he "thoroughly, thoroughly recommends it."

Allegra Stratton, the prime minister's press secretary says she has lost more than a stone by filling half of her plate with vegetables.

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Rishi Sunak, Britain's finance minister, defends the increase in the corporate tax rate to 25%, saying the increased receipts from corporate tax in recent years were because of cyclical recovery of corporate profits which took a hit in the financial crisis. He says that the cuts in the rate by George Osborne, former Tory finance minister, have not led to increased business investment. Osborne cut taxes to 20% from 29%, lowest in G20 countries and Hammond who succeeded Osborne as finance minister cut the rate to 19%. At 25% the corporate tax will still be the lowest in the G7 countries. France, Japan and Germany have corporate tax rate of 30-31%. Higher taxes would help finance needs for government investment in infrastructure and health services, public services, and tackle the financial situation arising out of the pandemic support. The last time taxes were raised was in 1973. This also shows that the UK and the rest of the world is looking at the mixed results shown from cutting taxes. Business investment has not resulted from the business tax cuts in the way that would support creating job growth, some of the investment only supporting automation. The investment in infrastructure is lacking from the business sector leading to the need for government to use taxes for renewal in updating infrastructure. The rise of China with new infrastructure has only shown the problems with simply cutting taxes in the hope that job growth, economic growth, infrastructure growth would happen as hoped. This is why the Tories under Boris Johnson are trying a new approach to get the job done. ...

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Okere city, Uganda is revived with a school, solar energy, health clinic, and economy built on shea tree products. All done by someone who left the area as a child during the war decades ago and lost his father, a civil servant in Uganda. The graduate of London School of Economics, Mr. Ojok Okello, says he wanted it to generate its own income and grow from the ground up with local people building a better future. He did not want it to depend on the goodwill of some white person without the locals involved. To do this he put in his own money- $39,000. This is a heart warming story of what is possible in parts of British East Africa that are being revived with the good sense, hard work and, and positive spirit that was part of its history. It shows that with the will, self confidence and implementation a lot can be done that was thought to be impossible. A story that is seen in Indian villages and other parts of the world after decades of stagnation- clean water, electricity, schools, health care.   ...

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Scott McCartney looks at the situation facing frequent travelers who have done something incredible- not taken a flight for a full year during the coronavirus. Many travelers are now getting ready to start flying again. Here he gives a list of things to check including passport expiry, and expiry dates for medicine kit, checking other items, as a way to get ready for travel after May.

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The mRNA vaccine production is running into bottlenecks because the mRNA derived from DNA, needs to be encapsulated in lipids. Lipids supply is limited. The detailed production process is described here in the WSJ. 

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President Biden is taking his time to conduct trade negotiations says this story in the WSJ. The economic plan and help for manufacturing business is a higher priority. Biden is skeptical about the Trans Pacific Trade Agreement negotiated by president Obama and has concerns for the protection of American labor. There is a sense that such trade agreements are not in the American interest of reviving its manufacturing base. Trade negotiations with China are to be conducted from a position of strength. To do this president Biden wants to consult closely with Australia, Europe, and Japan before proceeding with trade talks. For these reasons trade talks are a lesser priority for the Biden administration.

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Japan is still very cautious about nuclear power after the meltdowns at Japanese nuclear reactors in Fukushima. A decade after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit the nuclear reactors only 9 reactors are operating compared to 54  earlier. In Germany the final reactor is set to be retired in 2022. From Wales to South Korea and the US planning has stopped after Fukushima.

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The decline in inventory, restraint shown by US oil producers and the speedy recovery in Asia is leading to a rise in oil prices to $64 a barrel. The winter storm in Texas briefly cut about half of US oil production, and will also reduce global oil supplies.

Experts say global oil supplies are exceeded by demand by 2.8 million barrels a day, leading to a rapid fall in inventory stock. After Easter with the vaccination drive in full swing, people are expected to start travel. Oil prices are expected to go up to $75. Others are more cautious expecting US shale producers and OPEC to increase production and travel to go up gradually.

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Logistical problems and need to authorize it for over 65's has delayed the effective use of Astra Zeneca vaccine doses in Germany and France.

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About $82 billion in investment is planned for ports modernization to improve shipping and cargo handling capacity by 2030, according to the prime minister. "Maritime India Vision 2030" gives some idea of the vision for India as it develops and modernizes. Shipping and ports infrastructure building is part of the overall vision for new infrastructure for the country.

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The importance of catching early any cases of coronavirus variant originating in Brazil, variants that could reduce vaccine effectiveness and spread quickly. The effort is taking place in the UK.

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Here are tips on setting  up covid vaccine appointments. Using your phone is important to look up vaccine offering places and governmental health organizations, signing up successfully with personal information, and being very quick to respond when a response is received offering the vaccine. Getting the first spot available is key to getting the process of vaccination started. The vaccine slots get filled very quickly making it critical to act fast. Once one has found the right website and registered one's information the process works for India and the US. Appointments can be setup for older relatives in India or in the US after one has entered one's information for address and phone number, email.

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Maharashtra state makes up about half of the daily cases of about 15,000 in India on March 1. Other states with a surge in cases are Kerala, Punjab, Tamilnadu, and Gujarat.

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As India's vaccination drive moves into the second phase, the Indian Express offers information on how elderly over 60 and people over 45 with health conditions can get vaccinated.