New research recently published in the journal International Social Work observing how marital status effects the aging of men and women reported a pattern of married men aging slower than those who were single, while for women, there was minimal difference present. Mabel Ho, Eleanor Pullenayegum, David Burnes, and Esme Fuller-Thomson, the researchers behind the Canada-based study, said it examines the “sex-specific impact of marital trajectories among older adults on successful aging to help social workers identify those most at risk for sub-optimal outcomes who may benefit from targeted interventions.” They explained that they used binary logistic regression analyses to investigate 7641 Canadians who were classified as ‘aging successfully’ in the baseline wave of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, which tracked the health and well-being of adults aged 45 to 85 over a period of 20 years. According to their findings, men who were continuously married, continuously widowed, or got married between the waves were more probable to age “successfully” as opposed to their single counterparts. Whereas for women, their marital trajectories reportedly played a modest role in their aging. Of the 3926 male respondents, “significant positive associations” between marital status and successful aging were observed in respondents who were continuously married (aOR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.53, 4.28), continuously widowed (aOR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.22, 5.09), or became married since baseline (aOR = 3.83, 95% CI = 1.67, 8.77) when compared to their never-married peers. As a contrast, there were no significant differences in regards to successful aging between never-married individuals and any of the other marital categories (i.e. continuously married, continuously widowed, continuously divorced or separated, became married since baseline, and other trajectories of marital status since baseline) for the 3715 female respondents. However, the authors reported one exception of the women who transitioned from married to not married between the waves having significantly lower odds of “successful aging” (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.81). According to another study recently published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, women were observed to be more content living on their own, as they were found to be less likely to want a significant other, and more sexually satisfied. The authors of the analysis suggested this is because women were more likely to report having supportive platonic relationships, and because they reported romantic relationships are less beneficial for them, as they’re more likely to take on a larger share of household and romantic duties while having their sexual pleasure undervalued. Overall however, marriage in the US is reported to have jumped from 5.1 per 1,000 people in 2020 to 6.2 by 2022, the highest rate observed since 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Trump and NATO Chief Meet for Crucial Global Security Talks
First-ever indigenous shrimp harvesting project completesThree men have died on UK roads as Storm Bert continues to hit the country. A tree fell onto a car on the A34 southbound near Winchester this morning, killing a man who was driving a black Mercedes. Hampshire Police is investigating the incident. Meanwhile in West Yorkshire, a 34-year-old man from Bradford was killed after a car collided with a wall in Shipley. Police were called at 12.59am and the man was pronounced dead at the scene Police continue to investigate the cause but it is understood the road was not icy at the time of the incident. Northamptonshire Police has now confirmed that a man, in his 40s, died in a crash on the A45 near Flore at around 8.20am. A silver Toyota Corolla and a dark grey Hyundai collided. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. For the latest news and breaking news visit: /news Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/DailyExpress and @daily_expressTrump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations
Louisville wastes early lead, holds off Eastern Kentucky
StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Syros Pharmaceuticals ( NASDAQ:SYRS – Free Report ) in a report released on Thursday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Brookline Capital Management reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Syros Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Syros Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. HC Wainwright restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $1.00 price target (down previously from $6.00) on shares of Syros Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $5.00 price objective (down from $13.00) on shares of Syros Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating on shares of Syros Pharmaceuticals in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $3.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Syros Pharmaceuticals Syros Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance Syros Pharmaceuticals ( NASDAQ:SYRS – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported ($0.68) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.76) by $0.08. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($1.35) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Syros Pharmaceuticals will post -2.94 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Transactions at Syros Pharmaceuticals In other news, CEO Conley Chee bought 50,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.51 per share, for a total transaction of $75,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 72,504 shares in the company, valued at $109,481.04. The trade was a 222.18 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, CFO Jason Haas purchased 45,344 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1.68 per share, with a total value of $76,177.92. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 124,552 shares in the company, valued at $209,247.36. The trade was a 57.25 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders purchased a total of 130,707 shares of company stock valued at $206,491 over the last three months. 12.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SYRS. Opaleye Management Inc. raised its holdings in Syros Pharmaceuticals by 119.1% in the 1st quarter. Opaleye Management Inc. now owns 787,545 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,213,000 after acquiring an additional 428,175 shares during the last quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Syros Pharmaceuticals in the 1st quarter valued at $2,166,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Syros Pharmaceuticals by 21.3% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 928,046 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,965,000 after acquiring an additional 163,234 shares during the last quarter. Certuity LLC acquired a new position in Syros Pharmaceuticals in the 2nd quarter valued at $109,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Syros Pharmaceuticals by 101.5% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 34,578 shares of the company’s stock valued at $178,000 after acquiring an additional 17,416 shares during the last quarter. 91.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Syros Pharmaceuticals Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of treatment for hematologic malignancies. The company's lead product candidates are Tamibarotene, a selective retinoic acid receptor alpha agonist, which is in Phase III clinical trial for genomically defined subset of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and Phase II clinical trial for patients with acute myeloid leukemia; SY-2101, a novel oral form of arsenic trioxide for treating patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia; and SY-5609, a cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitor, which is in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with select advanced solid tumors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Syros Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Syros Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Community support needed for continuation of vital services
UNC GREENSBORO 105, VIRGINIA-LYNCHBURG 50Just six months after Tk 6,500 crore was spent on capital dredging, Payra Port's Rabnabad channel has lost much of its navigability, pushing up coal transport costs for the power plants in the area. Mother vessels carrying coal from abroad for two power stations are unable to dock at the port jetty, forcing the plants to bear the extra cost of lightering. Patuakhali's Kalapara upazila along the Rabnabad river houses the 1,320MW Payra Thermal Power Plant. Boasting ultra-supercritical technology, the plant began its operations in 2020. The Rural Power Company Limited's plant in the area is nearing completion, while the Ashuganj power plant is under construction. Both the stations will have a capacity to generate 1,320MW each. The coal for these plants is brought from Indonesia through the Rabnabad channel. Many other companies rely on this channel and port to import nine other commodities, from limestone to LPG. The Belgian contractor Jan de Nul completed the capital dredging of the 75km long channel with 100-125m or higher width by April 26. The dredging allowed vessels with a draft of 10.5m to enter the port. But the triumph was short-lived. With a glaring lack of maintenance dredging, the channel's depth plummeted to dangerous levels — below 6.5m at high tide and 5.9m at low tide. No mother vessel, that requires a minimum depth of 10m, can reach the jetty now. Port users face skyrocketing costs as coal must be lightered at the outer anchorage. Engineer Shah Abdul Mawla, project manager of the Payra Thermal Power Plant, paints a dismal picture. "We're incurring an additional $10 to $12 per tonne in lightering costs. This additional expense is a burden on power generation." Without immediate dredging, transportation costs will soar, and user dissatisfaction will grow. Zobair Ahmed, supervising engineer of the power plant, highlights an alarming reality. "The Payra thermal power plant meets 10 percent of the nation's electricity demand. Each month, we burn over 300,000 tonnes of coal. Direct jetty access would have cut costs, but the channel's depth is already dwindling. This winter could see it drop below 5m, hiking costs even further." Salim Bhuiyan, managing director of Rural Power Company Limited, echoed the concerns of the Payra plant officials. He said they alerted the Payra Port Authority (PPA) about the depth crisis and the PPA promised to raise the issue in high-level meetings with the shipping ministry and the Power Division. Abu Saeed, a top official of Radiant Shipping, warned of dire consequences if maintenance dredging did not start soon. "The Rabnabad channel was silting up even before the dredging was completed. Reduced navigability means higher costs and longer delays. If this persists, we'll have to seek alternatives to using the port. Maintaining navigability is crucial." Captain SM Sharifur Rahman, harbour master of Payra port, shares disheartening statistics. Post-dredging, only 200 mother vessels with a 10.5m draft could reach the jetty. But as navigability waned gradually, lightering became necessary again. On May 1, the channel's depth was 9.3m, shrinking to 7.7m by June 1, and a mere 7m by September 11. As of November 20, it stands at a precarious 6m. Rear Admiral Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury, chairman of PPA, acknowledged the struggle, saying year-round dredging is vital. After the maintenance dredging contract expired on April 30, emergency dredging was conducted until August 14, but the channel is silting up constantly. "While there was initial consent for two more years of dredging, circumstances have stalled a decision. We're also procuring hopper dredgers to boost our dredging capacity. The next steps depend on the shipping ministry," Mamun said. Despite the navigability crisis, Payra Port's activity is on the rise. Formal operations, starting on August 13, 2016, have seen a surge. Just 10 ships docked at the port in the 2016-17 fiscal year, and the number rose to 1,040 in 2023-24. By October 28 this year, the port managed 3,160 ships, including 484 foreign commercial vessels. This boom generated around Tk 1,576 crore in revenue for the government, according to PPA data.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLMurray – who retired after the summer Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body – will join the Serbian’s team in the off-season and coach him through the opening grand slam of 2025. It will see the Scot surprisingly join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his long career, especially in Australia where he lost to Djokovic in four finals. Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024 “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” In posting a teaser about the appointment on social media, Djokovic said: “He never liked retirement anyway.” He then added: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals while also losing in the French Open final in 2016. It was his pursuit of toppling Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 which was a precursor to his 2017 hip injury which derailed Murray’s career. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game as he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.
Relief, defiance, anger: Families and advocates react to Biden's death row commutationsCall for prioritising gender-inclusive climate resilience Islamabad:Coordinator to the prime minister on climate change Romina Khurshid Alam on Monday said that while Pakistan grappled with the escalating adverse impacts of climate change, from devastating floods and droughts to extreme heat waves, there was a pressing need to prioritise gender-inclusive climate resilience to overcome those challenges. “Women, especially in rural and marginalised communities, are among the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Yet, they also hold the key to sustainable, community-driven solutions,” Alam said during a meeting with Technical Lead for Green Tech Hub at NUST Dr Salman Atif and official from UN-Women Dr Waqarul Shams here. The visitors and aide to the PM discussed matters related to the future plan of action for Green Tech Hub as a national focal point for research and green technology driven startups from the country and possible search for international partners for enhancing cooperation and collaboration in climate research and startups ecosystem. Alam assured the delegation of her all-out support to explore and reach out to available funding avenues and opportunities for strengthening the Green Tech Hub, set at the NUST University in Islamabad in collaboration with the climate change and environmental coordination ministry. The Green-Tech Hub was launched this year in October as a dedicated platform with an overarching aim to serve as a dedicated space for students, researchers, and innovators to collaborate on cutting-edge solutions in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, climate adaptation technologies, and sustainable agriculture. The initiative is a direct response to the urgent need for innovation in addressing Pakistan's environmental challenges, including energy shortages, water scarcity, pollution, and the growing impacts of climate change. The PM’s climate aide said by empowering women with the tools, knowledge, and resources to adapt to a changing climate, Pakistan could build stronger, more resilient communities for the future. She, however, said there was urgent need for inclusive, holistic risk management strategies focusing on building climate resilience of the women and children. "One of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of climate change adaptation and resilience in Pakistan and in many developing countries is gender inclusivity. Women's experiences and vulnerabilities in the face of climate-related disasters are unique, and addressing these disparities is essential for building sustainable and equitable climate solutions," she said. Alam said women in rural and marginalised areas of the country often bore the brunt of climate impacts but they also held valuable knowledge and the potential to lead resilience-building efforts. She, however, said empowering women with technical know-how, skills and financial resources was key to their climate resilience. “When combined with innovative technologies, gender-inclusive climate strategies can transform communities and secure a more sustainable future for all,” she said.
never disappoints when it comes to , however, it's fair to say that it's the pricey that get most of the love when it comes to major savings. That ends now, as Sonos' entry-level bar has hit its lowest-ever price on Amazon. The plug-and-play Sonos Ray is now only or at Amazon, making this bargain 'bar a tempting choice for those who want a simple and effective fix for their TV's mediocre built-in speakers. The is the entry-level model in Sonos's soundbar range. To keep the price down, Sonos has omitted connectivity, which means no Dolby Atmos. But it does still have support and for wireless playback from an Apple device. There is no though. It is small enough to sit beneath a gaming monitor or a small TV – of course, if you have a massive , you're going to want a bigger to do it justice. Having said that, the Ray's audio output does seem significantly larger than the soundbar's dimensions suggest. Dialogue is clear and forthright, and the audio has plenty of texture. In our initial review, we noted a strange buzzing sound in its low end that proved distracting. Thankfully that has since been fixed via a firmware update, and we duly bumped the Ray's score up to four stars. It also has Sonos's Trueplay technology, which calibrates its sound to your room. All in all, this is a lot of soundbar for £141. But hurry – at time of writing, there were only 13 units left at Amazon, only one left at Peter Tyson, and Richer Sounds was making you call up stores to check stock and order direct from them. If you are able to spend more, the and are also heavily discounted for . Check out all the best soundbar deals via the link below.
Penn State seeks to stay perfect, takes on Fordham
Micron India Delegation Meets Rajasthan CMThe decision of the present administration to reduce the army of security personnel allotted to former presidents at enormous taxpayer expense came into effect last week. This will, no doubt, be widely welcomed countrywide. There are five living former presidents and the widow of one (Mrs. Hema Premadasa), enjoying the considerable benefits of the Presidential Entitlements Act which became effective from February 1986. This law was enacted by the government of the country’s first executive president, J.R. Jayewardene, who was the creator of this office and its first incumbent. Though privately wealthy, JRJ obviously looked to the future and the well being of his successors in that powerful office, some of of whom solemnly pledged to abolish it. It was one of many promises that remain undelivered to this day. The present rulers, by reducing the state-provided security of former presidents and the widow of one has not thrown them to the wolves and the mercy of potential assassins. They will continue to enjoy substantial security cover, now restricted to the police alone rather than a combination of the police and military. As far as we are aware, a protest has been lodged only on behalf of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), the political party he leads. While Rajapaksa himself has not been heard protesting, a couple of SLPP officials including a Member of Parliament has publicly criticized the measure. They seem to regard the war winning president as still at risk from the rump of the LTTE he destroyed in 2009. The Tigers, no doubt, assassinated President Ranasinghe Premadasa and attempted in December 1999 to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunga campaigning on the eve of an election seeking a second term. She lost an eye in that terrorist attack where 34 others were killed and over 105 injured. Apart from these, the LTTE successfully assassinated several political heavyweights in Sri Lanka as well as former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in India. At least some in the SLPP seem to think that what remains of the LTTE, whether at home or abroad, makes Rajapaksa still vulnerable. Last week there was some talk of MR being at risk from a drone attack. This has been discounted as far-fetched by and incumbent deputy minister. In any event there will be continued threat assessments every six months and past presidents (and Mrs. Premadasa) provided security in accordance with these. The fact is that political leaders once upon a time risked their lives and limbs not only at the hands of the LTTE but also at the hands of the JVP, particularly during its second second adventure when it was responsible for many political killings. But all that is water under the bridges and what is relevant at present is whether the leaders of today are currently under risk and require protection at public cost. During the worst of times, readers will remember, there were road closures for long periods of time when VIPs were whizzing past in motorcades with sirens screaming and massive security backup. But at that time the risk was very real. Then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa narrowly escaped death in 2006 and UNP strongman Ranjan Wijeratne was blown-up by a terrorist bomb in 1991. That is now old hat. The vast majority in the country regard the security accorded to former presidents costing billions totally disproportionate to today’s reality. Hence the decision to limit the task to the police and withdraw the military from the security contingents provided to former leaders. The public have already been treated to photographs of former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sirisena posing for group photographs with their departing guards. Much of the manpower in the police force is assigned to the so-called presidential and ministerial security divisions at the cost of regular policing for the benefit of all the people of the country rather than a few individuals. One advocate of the retention of MR’s security argued that nothing would be saved by the withdrawal of the military as the personnel involved would report back to their detachments and continue as paid soldiers. This contention is not entirely lacking in merit. But its proponent did not take into account that there are factors other than emoluments coming into play. But these would not certainly run into the billions as the total tab does. Quite apart from the security cost, the other entitlements former presidents draw including pensions, suitable housing, vehicles, office entitlements etc. cost the taxpayer a pretty penny. CBK recently went on record saying she receives a monthly pension of Rs. 94,000 which was not paid for nine years by the MR regime until it was restored by yahapalana. With or without arrears, she did not say. She claims she spends heavily on repairs and maintenance of her official mansion on Independence Avenue, funded by selling her land. She had returned seven assigned vehicles in 2020 in view of the country situation. Currently she has four, two for herself and two for security and she doesn’t mind if those are recalled as she’ll travel by bus. Maithripala Sirisena, who once solicited public contributions to settle a Rs. 100 million penalty imposed on him by court over the Easter bombs, says he finds security he does not need a hindrance and he doesn’t mind withdrawal. Apart from security, where else the fat will be trimmed is not yet public as the KT Chitrasiri report on these as well as MPs perks and privileges are yet under study. But there is not an iota of doubt that public opinion strongly favours doing away with these and other perks, particularly MPs’ life pensions after just five years of parliamentary service.