Category Archives: Liberal

Normally by the evening after an election, we would have a clear idea of the make-up of the next Parliament. Instead, the Covid pandemic has meant that we are still waiting to hear the results of the regional lists and a handful of stubborn constituencies.

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In Orkney, Liam McArthur won a huge victory with 62.3 per cent of the vote. As the candidate with the highest vote share at the last election, I know Liam was desperate to repeat the feat and it looks like he may be able to claim the title once more.

Over in Shetland, Beatrice Wishart first won her seat in a by-election in 2019 in the face of a determined challenge from the SNP, but at this election she triumphed again, growing her vote share to almost 50 per cent. This is a sign of the shift Beatrice has put in as a local MSP over the past 18 months and shows the valuable of a hard-working local representative.

In Edinburgh Western, as it stands, my good friend Alex Cole-Hamilton has secured the highest vote for any constituency MSP since the formation of the parliament in 1999 with almost 26,000 votes.

Thats a tremendous achievement for Alex and his team and a fitting reward for the many long hours of door knocking and canvassing theyve done since such campaign activities resumed after the Duke of Edinburghs death.

Finally in North East Fife, I was absolutely honoured that 55 per cent of voters chose to put their cross next to my name. As I write this, Scottish Liberal Democrats currently hold more constituencies than the other pro-UK parties combined.

Our message that the next Parliament needs to put recovery first clearly got through and had big appeal on the doorsteps in our strongest areas.

It is frustrating that we werent able to move the dial in other constituencies. Some were up, others down.

The issues we highlighted will be important in the next parliament. We built our campaign around helping the country to bounce back from the pandemic.

The pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on our national mental health. Children have missed out on education. We need to take action after SNP plans for early years education fell short. I spoke out about the need to protect peoples jobs and deliver an industrial strategy for recovery. And of course, the biggest challenge of our age, action on the climate emergency.

Over the next five years, Scottish Liberal Democrats will pursue these issues. And we will persuade more people to switch their MSP to a Lib Dem next time because people can see the quality of the service they get which results in big re-election wins in those seats.

On day two of the count, we find out what the regional list vote holds. For now Scottish Liberal Democrats will enjoy our status as Scotlands biggest opposition party.

Willie Rennie is Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and MSP for North East Fife

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Scottish election 2021: Big re-election wins for Liberal Democrat MSPs shows just how popular they are Willie Rennie MSP - The Scotsman

It has taken more than six months for the US and European Union to relax their stand on patents for anti-Covid vaccines. But all developed countries are still not on the same page on the issue. The EU which is negotiating a deal with Pfizer to lock in 1.8 billion doses has said that it is ready for a pragmatic discussion on the Biden administrations plea for intellectual property rights flexibility on Covid vaccines. However, EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen has expressed reservations about the US proposal and has found support from Germany, the blocs de facto leader. The limiting factor in vaccine manufacturing is production capacity and high quality standards, not patents, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. The EU has been far more liberal in exporting vaccines compared to the US and UK, which cornered a large number of doses. But the tough stance of some of its members on IPR, while India and several other countries are confronted with vaccine shortages amidst a staggering rise in caseloads, runs counter to the blocs position during the early days of the crisis last year. Both von der Leyen and Merkel had endorsed the idea of vaccine as a public good then.

In October last year, India and South Africa suggested relaxing the TRIPS regime to enable Third World countries to scale up production of vaccines. The proposal received the support of at least 120 countries but was blocked by the US, UK and the EU which argued that the ban would stifle innovation changes to international IPR rules require unanimous agreement. The US Trade Departments statement, earlier this week, calling for extraordinary measures to deal with extraordinary circumstances is a belated but welcome attempt at course correction. The administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines, it said.

Articles IX.3 and IX.4 of the WTO agreement mention exceptional circumstances when patents can be waived. The fact that such circumstances have not been delineated should not stand in the way of invoking these clauses when the world is confronted with its worst health crisis in a century. Relaxing IPR rules could allow companies in developing countries to manufacture vaccines without fear of lawsuits from firms that developed them. Of course, such measures will not ipso facto lead to an increase in production capacities. Concerns about counterfeit vaccines also deserve serious attention. However, given the warning of epidemiologists that mutants will continue to develop as long as the virus circulates in densely-populated countries most of them in the developed world the salience of allowing multiple players to start vaccine production under rigorous regulatory monitoring cannot be overstated. When the EU discusses the Biden proposal over the weekend, its members will surely keep the Covid adage, no one is safe till everyone is safe, in mind. That should nudge them to open more spaces for vaccine collaboration.

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Patently fair - The Indian Express

GlobeNewswire

Abstract: - Global Tonometers Market to Reach $481. 2 Million by 2027. - Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Tonometers estimated at US$340. 5 Million in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$481.New York, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Tonometers Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06033140/?utm_source=GNW 2 Million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% over the analysis period 2020-2027. Applanation Tonometer, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 4.9% CAGR and reach US$182.3 Million by the end of the analysis period. After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Rebound Tonometer segment is readjusted to a revised 5.4% CAGR for the next 7-year period. - The U.S. Market is Estimated at $91.9 Million, While China is Forecast to Grow at 8.2% CAGR - The Tonometers market in the U.S. is estimated at US$91.9 Million in the year 2020. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$101.9 Million by the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 8.1% over the analysis period 2020 to 2027. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 2.8% and 4% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.6% CAGR. - Indentation Tonometer Segment to Record 5.1% CAGR - In the global Indentation Tonometer segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 4.8% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$56.2 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$78.2 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$65.3 Million by the year 2027, while Latin America will expand at a 5.5% CAGR through the analysis period. - Select Competitors (Total 40 Featured) - 66 Vision Tech Co., Ltd.Accutome, Inc.Amtek, Inc.Canon Medical Systems Europe B.V.Haag-Streit GroupHuvitz Corp.Icare Finland OyKeeler LtdKowa American CorporationMetall Zug AGOculus, Inc.Reichert, Inc.Revenio Group OyjRexxam Co., Ltd.TomeyUSATopcon CorporationZiemer Ophthalmic Systems Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06033140/?utm_source=GNW I. METHODOLOGY II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Impact of Covid-19 and a Looming Global Recession 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: World Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 2: World Historic Review for Tonometers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 3: World 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 4: World Current & Future Analysis for Applanation Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 5: World Historic Review for Applanation Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 6: World 15-Year Perspective for Applanation Tonometer by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 7: World Current & Future Analysis for Rebound Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 8: World Historic Review for Rebound Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 9: World 15-Year Perspective for Rebound Tonometer by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 10: World Current & Future Analysis for Indentation Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 11: World Historic Review for Indentation Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 12: World 15-Year Perspective for Indentation Tonometer by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 13: World Current & Future Analysis for Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 14: World Historic Review for Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 15: World 15-Year Perspective for Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 16: World Current & Future Analysis for Handheld by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 17: World Historic Review for Handheld by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 18: World 15-Year Perspective for Handheld by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 19: World Current & Future Analysis for Desktop by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 20: World Historic Review for Desktop by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 21: World 15-Year Perspective for Desktop by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 22: World Current & Future Analysis for Ophthalmic Centers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 23: World Historic Review for Ophthalmic Centers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 24: World 15-Year Perspective for Ophthalmic Centers by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 25: World Current & Future Analysis for Hospitals by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 26: World Historic Review for Hospitals by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 27: World 15-Year Perspective for Hospitals by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 28: World Current & Future Analysis for Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 29: World Historic Review for Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 30: World 15-Year Perspective for Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 III. MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Table 31: USA Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 32: USA Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 33: USA 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 34: USA Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 35: USA Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 36: USA 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 37: USA Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 38: USA Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 39: USA 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 CANADA Table 40: Canada Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 41: Canada Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 42: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 43: Canada Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 44: Canada Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 45: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 46: Canada Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 47: Canada Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 48: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 JAPAN Table 49: Japan Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 50: Japan Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 51: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 52: Japan Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 53: Japan Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 54: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 55: Japan Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 56: Japan Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 57: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 CHINA Table 58: China Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 59: China Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 60: China 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 61: China Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 62: China Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 63: China 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 64: China Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 65: China Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 66: China 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 EUROPE Table 67: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 68: Europe Historic Review for Tonometers by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 69: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets for Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 70: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 71: Europe Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 72: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 73: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 74: Europe Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 75: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 76: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 77: Europe Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 78: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 FRANCE Table 79: France Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 80: France Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 81: France 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 82: France Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 83: France Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 84: France 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 85: France Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 86: France Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 87: France 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 GERMANY Table 88: Germany Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 89: Germany Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 90: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 91: Germany Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 92: Germany Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 93: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 94: Germany Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 95: Germany Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 96: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 ITALY Table 97: Italy Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 98: Italy Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 99: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 100: Italy Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 101: Italy Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 102: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 103: Italy Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 104: Italy Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 105: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 UNITED KINGDOM Table 106: UK Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 107: UK Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 108: UK 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 109: UK Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 110: UK Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 111: UK 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 112: UK Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 113: UK Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 114: UK 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 SPAIN Table 115: Spain Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 116: Spain Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 117: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 118: Spain Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 119: Spain Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 120: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 121: Spain Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 122: Spain Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 123: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 RUSSIA Table 124: Russia Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 125: Russia Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 126: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 127: Russia Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 128: Russia Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 129: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 130: Russia Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 131: Russia Historic Review for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 132: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 REST OF EUROPE Table 133: Rest of Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 134: Rest of Europe Historic Review for Tonometers by Type - Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 135: Rest of Europe 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Applanation Tonometer, Rebound Tonometer, Indentation Tonometer and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 136: Rest of Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 137: Rest of Europe Historic Review for Tonometers by Portability - Handheld and Desktop Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 138: Rest of Europe 15-Year Perspective for Tonometers by Portability - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Handheld and Desktop for the Years 2012, 2020 & 2027 Table 139: Rest of Europe Current & Future Analysis for Tonometers by End-Use - Ophthalmic Centers, Hospitals and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand Please contact our Customer Support Center to get the complete Table of ContentsRead the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06033140/?utm_source=GNWAbout ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.__________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

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Trudeau says Liberal budget is not a launch pad for a federal election - Yahoo Canada Finance

Provincial governments have reacted with a mixture of skepticism and openness to the Liberal government's pledge to build a universal and affordable child care system.

In the federal budget, tabled yesterday, the federal government said it would invest up to $30 billion over the next five years, starting this fiscal year, tohelp offset the cost of early learning and child care services.

Thegoal is to cut fees in half within the next 18 months and reduce the cost for parents to $10 a day by 2026, the budget said.

Thestrings attached tothe spending pledge would dictate what forms of child care could be eligible for federal funding, and how much parental fees must drop.

"We really look forward to rolling up out sleeves and starting to negotiate bilateral deals, with willing partners, among the provinces and territories on really stepping up our game on early learning and child care," Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said told reporters today.

But some provincial leaders either feel the strings on the cash are too tight, orwon't necessarily help their provinces.

Their responses mark the opening salvos in what could become complex and thornynegotiations between the Liberals and the provinces to create a national system.

Alberta and Ontario said the proposed measures don't meet the unique needs of parents in their provinces, while New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs wondered if the money is aimed at buying votes in large urban centres.

"While we welcome increased support for child care, until this year, the federal government only contributed 2.5 per centto Ontario's program," Ontario's Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement.

"Ontario needs long-term financial support that is flexible to respond to the unique needs of every parent, not a one-size-fits-all approach."

Alberta's Children's Services MinisterRebecca Schulz also called for flexibility in the funding.

"What I really want to make sure is that there's flexibility so that we can meet the unique needs of Alberta childcare operators and Alberta parents," Schulz said.

WATCH | Working parents say national childcare plan could be life-changing:

Schultz said that in Alberta, more than 60 per cent of childcare centres are privately ownedand only one in seven parents enroltheir children in licensed daycares.

"Let's put that into context: to expand a universal program right across Alberta would cost more than $1 billion," Shulz said.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said he needs to see more detailsbefore passing judgment. But he criticized thefact that the budget did not include a substantial and permanent increase to the Canada Health Transfer a key demand premiers have been making for months.

"We have trouble with a federal government here that doesn't want to partner effectively on providing health care," said Pallister.

"So I'm very hesitant to give a blank cheque to the federal government already on a pronouncement pre-election."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said provincesmust agree to targets on affordability, quality of care and training of early childhood educators if they want a share of the federal child care funding laid out in the budget.

"Provinces that agree to step up in real ways on child care will move forward on agreements," Trudeau said in an interview with Edmonton-based online talk show host Ryan Jespersen.

"Those who aren't interested, well, there's nothing we can do to force them to do it, but they won't be getting the resources that will come through a bilateral deal to move forward on child care."

Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin and Newfoundland and Labrador's finance minister were bothmore open to the funding.

"Ithink this is very important to families andin particular, women, allowing them to get back into the workforce," said Newfoundland and LabradorFinance MinisterSiobhan Coady.

Rankin said he's directed the province's education department to examine how the proposed "substantial" funding can help the province improve itspre-primary program. He said an initial calculation projects Nova Scotia would receive around $100million over the next five years.

"Iexpect that this budget will pass, hopefully, and we'll be able to leverage this opportunity and we'll finally have universal child care," said Rankin.

"[In the] last budget, we lowered our cost per childcare to $25 per day and now with this assistance we'll be considering what more we can do."

In Quebec, the province already operates a child care system where parents pay a flat fee of $8.35 per day. The budget said the Quebec system would be a model for a national system, and that the federal government would look to reach an agreement with the province to further improve its system.

The Liberals hope to build on previous child care funding deals, signed four years ago, that broadly outlined how spending tied to the Trudeau government's first foray into daycare needed to be used.

Those deals committed thefederal governmentto spending$7.5 billion over11 years to create or maintain 40,000 child carespaces.Freeland's first budget doesn't say how many spaces the new federalpledge would create, nor does itestimate how many spaces might move from home-based or private care to non-profit settings.

Expanding spaces needs to go hand-in-hand with fee reductions, said David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

"There are not specific targets on the number of child care spaces created. Hopefully, there will be soon," he said.

"That's a big part of a national childcare plan, particularly if your goal is to reduce fees."

The budget's child care spending pledge would see the government increase funding over time before matching provincial spending on child care.

Provinces aren't being asked to match costs over the ramp-up period, assuming they sign on to five-year funding agreements starting this fall, said economist Armine Yalnizyan.

"I'm very hopeful that for the first time with political will, as well as moneyand ambition at the table, we are going to get to where we need to go," said Yalnizyan, who sits on Freeland's task force on women in the economy.

"The only hiccup is going to be intransigent provinces."

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said the 2017 agreement and previous bilateral agreements on childcare between the federal and provincial governments provide a foundation for co-operation.

"This is a journey that we want to embark on together with provinces and territories,"Hussen said in an interview on CBC'sPower & Politics.

Hussen said the negotiations will determine how much money each province willcontribute to the system, and the design of the system in different regions.

Continued here:

Some provinces not ready to embrace Liberal pledge to build a national child care system - CBC.ca

Ever since Rohail Hyatt revealed he will not be producing Coke Studio (CS), he has been notably spending a lot of his time of Twitter. And so, the founding member of Vital Signs has been in the crosshairs for commenting on various socio-political matters since becoming an avid tweep.

Earlier, Hyatt and singer-turned-politician Jawad Ahmad locked horns on the micro-blogging site after the prior claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments on the rise in sexual violence in the country had been misconstrued. Following this, the maestro's tongue-in-cheek take on the liberals opposing his arguments left many confused and some, disappointed. "Never thought I'd get the chance to say this, I live in the Islamic Republic of Liberals!" Hyatt had argued.

In response, Jami lamented, "You lost me, boss, you were my King all this time." But the filmmaker wasnt the only one. Hyatts mindless support for PM Khan was reason enough for many to give up on a childhood hero they once idealised.

Thus, taking to his favourite social media platform once again, Hyatt has provided his final take on the term liberal for those who are still wondering how a popular liberal like himself could make a mockery of his own.

Ever since my tweets about liberals, Ive been asked by a lot of people to provide clarity. Obviously, family and friends who know me, know that Im 'liberal' in my viewpoint so they are curious about why I might oppose the idea, Hyatt wrote. Im posting this clarification one last time so that I dont have to respond to everyone again and again, he added.

The Aitebar hit maker then provided the literal definition of the term. The word liberalism means: willingness to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; openness to new ideas, noted Hyatt. He then asserted that one either practices this point of view or doesnt, but either case makes no difference to him. But by calling oneself liberal and then behaving the exact opposite to it gives the word the wrong meaning. Thats what I observe on Twitter.

Hyatt slammed pseudo-liberals for having zero tolerance towards any opinion other than their own, which contradicts the very ideology of liberalism. While real liberals just to distance themselves from this wrong version of liberalism are left to coin terms like 'centrist' or 'neutral' to define themselves, he said.

Meanwhile, the artist explained how that is precisely what extreme right-groups have done with religion, because of which, calling oneself religious is now misconstrued and equated to being an extremist, or someone with radical tendencies. The former Vital Signs founding member concluded, So from a 'true liberal' perspective, everyone has a right to be who they are and express themselves as they like, even the extremists. But a few shouldn't hijack the terms that the majority of us need to use for ourselves especially when theyre not going to practice what these terms really mean.

Hyatt also clarified that although he does not appreciate the need for labels since he considers them to be divisive. In a world that lacks the depth to understand without categorisation, associating oneself with a label one best identifies with is better than being labelled. I hope this helps clear any confusion. Peace!However, it is pertinent to mention here that Hyatts recent comments arent the only comments to have attracted the ire of Twitter previously.

Prior to this years Aurat March, while responding to a user who narrated how being cat-calling left her traumatised, Hyatt suggested that women need to have stronger nerves to endure such behaviour. The two then had a Twitter exchange which garnered divisive responses. Provided that the cat call was a prank, the music maestro had added, "Of course its natural to react but once one realises it was a prank, its important to quickly channel the fear out of the system. Laughter is often the best remedy."

A female user then schooled him saying, Harassment is unacceptable, prank or notdisappointed in your response Rohail sahab."

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Rohail Hyatt issues one last clarification about what he means by 'liberal' - The Express Tribune

At Ashoka University in Haryana, one can choose from 21 major and 18 minor coursesAcademician Pratap Bhanu Mehtas resignation from Haryana-based Ashoka University in March not only resulted in protests by students, but also put the spotlight on universities that offer them the option of getting a well-rounded and expansive intellectual grounding in all kinds of humanistic inquiryin the form of a liberal arts degree. Though specialised liberal arts colleges in India are still relatively youngmost of them were established only about a decade agothey are increasingly becoming popular and beginning to gain a wider student base.

Liberal arts courses are designed to introduce students to four areas of studyarts, humanities, natural and social sciencesand enable them to critically evaluate the environment around them. According to the draft National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 document, A liberal arts education enables one to truly develop both sides of the brainthe creative and analytical side.

How, not whatCourses under the umbrella of liberal arts are designed with a multi-faceted approach to challenge students understanding beyond their lived experiences. They are focussed on the how rather than on what.

Students are not taught what to think, but how to think, says Dishan Kamdar, vice chancellor of Pune-based Flame University. Such a learning system helps students develop abilities to connect the dots, hone a creative mindset, and inculcate skills to think out of the ordinary.

This has resulted in a majority of the graduates coming out of our education system not being employable as they lack the requisite skill sets for 21st century jobs, says professor Malabika Sarkar, vice chancellor, Ashoka University. Liberal arts focus on all-round development and in shaping students intellectual, aesthetic, social, physical and emotional capacities not only equips students for a career but also for life.

Every liberal arts college provides an opportunity to combine multiple academic interests into a single degree programme ranging from arts and performance, communication and design, to history, economics and even international relations.

At Ashoka University, a not-for-profit university and a philanthropic initiative that has raised over 1,100 crore in the past eight years through 119 individual and 27 corporate founders, students can choose from a range of 21 majors and 18 minors while making it mandatory to opt for two co-curricular courses.

Slow, steady growthIn the past few years, the awareness of liberal arts education has increased considerably, say academicians.

For instance, Bengaluru-based Azim Premji University, which began by offering two postgraduate programmes in 2011, currently operates 11 degree programmes and 30 short-term courses across the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Mumbai-based Jyoti Dalal School of Liberal Arts (JDSoLA), established in 2016, started with a batch of 60 students; today it has 120.

Shivali Padmanabh, 25, who completed her liberal arts undergraduate course in 2017 from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat, recalls it was a new concept when she signed up for it. When I was looking for options for my undergraduate degree, I was looking for a holistic approach over any specialised degree. Liberal arts back then was a rather new concept, she says, adding that since her graduation she has noticed a considerable increase in the number of students per batch in her university.

Applications have grown manifold in the last few years, with higher growth seen from international boards and from students who have taken international entrance tests like the SAT or ACT, says Kamdar of Flame University, a private philanthropic initiative that receives funding through grants. Our incoming class has more than doubled in the last few years.

One of the factors behind the growing popularity, say experts, may have to do with the faculty chosen. At JDSoLA, candidates need to have a PhD or an MA and six to seven years of industry experience in the specialised area. Selection is done after several rounds of rigorous interviews, and once selected, they go through intensive training, informs Dr Vaze.

At Azim Premji University, says the registrar Manoj P, We look for deep and sound disciplinary expertise. After multiple rounds of interactions, including campus visits, the facultys abilities are also gauged on the basis of their display of passion for teaching, and more importantly, an openness to engage with a learning community beyond their disciplinary boundaries.

Another factor that might have worked in favour of these universities is that they are increasingly opting for foreign collaborations to stay true to their idea of exposure. Many foreign universitiesfrom the best in business schools to Ivy League Universitieshave signed MoUs with universities like Ashoka, Azim Premji, and NMIMS in India, which ensure that international professors visit these universities for classes/sessions. Some of them also offer exchange programmes.

However, one of the biggest concerns about liberal arts education is about its future prospects, meaning how and what the degree could lead to, especially because these three- to four-year courses can cost anywhere between 4 lakh and 10 lakh a year.

Dr Neeti Sethi, Chair programmes, and professor of liberal arts courses at Thapar School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in Patiala, Punjab, points out that while the purpose of liberal arts education is much beyond just securing a job, getting a job is not something that can be completely ignored since many students might have educational loans to pay off.

Besides, parents still struggle to fit such courses in the ideal educational path they imagine for their children. There is a lot of interest for such courses in India but that comes mostly from students, not parents. People from my generation rarely understand the significance of liberal arts, adds Sethi. This, she says, might also have to do with the limited number of degree options while growing up.

But all this seems to be changing. A 2017 Dell Technologies report predicted that 85 percent of the jobs of 2030 have not been invented yet. In this context, liberal arts universities believe that the jobs of the 21st century will require a capacity to think critically, read discerningly, write persuasively, and be conscious of the impact of ones actions on society and environment.

In my experience of studying higher education trends, Ive seen that liberal arts courses are still misconstrued as not an equivalent of their mainstream counterparts. Majorly so because of the narrative of securing a decent job as the outcome of enrolling in a degree. This is slowly changing as students focus on education more than the need of securing a job, says Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and CEO, Leverage Edu, a higher education and career guidance platform.

Harshali Padmanabh, who is pursuing arts and business from the University of Waterloo, Canada, says the reason behind opting for liberal arts was the exposure to a wide array of subjects. I did not know what I wanted to get out of the degree back then, but I knew I wanted to acquaint myself to newer ideas for which the degree seemed ideal, she says. Employment is a secondary consideration. When you want to learn life skills, charting out a unique path becomes the focus.

Chaturvedi adds that though its still an urban concept, over the last three to five years such courses are being increasingly opted for by people from Tier II and Tier III cities as well, indicating the rising awareness about its significance.

Global vs local Despite the efforts taken to put Indias liberal arts universities on the global map, they have failed to grab a spot even in the top 100 over the years. The reasons might be many, say academicians.

Universities should focus on providing quality education and their interests should be towards the concerns of the students more than those of their investors, says Balveer Arora, chairman, Centre for Multilevel Federalism, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi.

We received applications that exceeded the size of the current batch by more than 10 times, a clear indication of the rising demand for liberal arts education. Dr Achyut Vaze, dean, Jyoti Dalal School of Liberal Arts

Elucidating what the Indian education landscape has to offer, Vaze says a local perspective will further develop the creative thinking, innovation, and problem-solving abilities of students. India has a rich cultural heritage, thriving schools of philosophies and ideologies, and a vibrant political and social life. It provides a unique, multi-dimensional, and highly specialised foundation for an education in liberal arts, giving an edge to Indian colleges that cannot be replicated abroad, he says.

Another aspect that Indian universities still lack in comparison to the ones abroad is the focus on admitting students from diverse backgrounds to enable the exchange of different viewpoints. In India, such programmes must become truly inclusive. If the student body does not truly reflect India, and somehow becomes an island of privilege, it would not serve its intended purpose, says Manoj P.

(This story appears in the 23 April, 2021 issue of Forbes India. You can buy our tablet version from Magzter.com. To visit our Archives, click here.)

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The State Of Liberal Arts Education In India - Forbes India

After decades of broken promises and half measures on child care, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced today the federal government will invest roughly $30 billion over five years to help offset the cost of early learning and child care services.

This federal investment the single largest line item in the massive 739-page budget document tabled today is designed to significantly reduce what parents pay for care in the coming years. The government's stated goal is to make life more affordable and to drive economic growth by drawing more women into the workforce.

The federal government estimates the COVID-19 pandemic has driven at least 16,000 women out of the job market altogether, while the male labour force has grown by 91,000 over the same period.

Another recent analysis by RBC found that almost half a million Canadian women who lost their jobs during the pandemic still hadn't returned to work as of January. Employment among women in Canada who earned less than $800 a week has fallen almost 30 per cent, the bank reported.

Freeland said this child care investment will help counter some of the gender disparities fuelled by the pandemic crisis.

Freeland said that, as result of the new spending, the next 18 months could see a reduction of up to 50 per cent in the average child care fees paid by parents. With child care expenses running nearly as high as rent or mortgage payments in some cities, the household savings could be significant.

But to get average fees down to that lower level, the provinces and territories would have to kick in more funding as well. The promise of additional federal money could be used as a bargaining chip to convince provinces and territories to boost their own spending in this area.

Freeland said such an affordable child care system could increase the overall size ofthe economy as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) by some 1.2 per cent.

"It's expensive, but it's an investment worth making," shesaid.

Of the $30 billion promised today, $27.2 billion will be used to "bring the federal government to a 50/50 share of child care costs with provincial and territorial governments," says the budget document.

The government's stated goal is to drive down child-minding costs within five years to just $10 a day per child, nationwide significantly less than what most working parents pay now in all jurisdictions outside Quebec.

The budget earmarks another $2.5 billion for the Indigenous early learning and child care system to create new spaces, to build or renovate existing centres and to support after-school care programs on-reserve.

The budget also sets aside money to make over 400 existing child care centres nationwide more accessible for children with disabilities.

After that initial $30 billion has been spent, the government says it will allocate $8.3billion a year in new program spending nearly eight times more than what the federal government spent on child care last year to make child care a permanent fixture of the country's social safety net.

That money is to be used to lower costs, create new spaces and hire more early childhood educators to bolster the quality of care in years to come.

Citing research compiled by TD Economics about Quebec's existing child care regime, Freeland said such a national child care system could eventually generate more in economic returns than what it costs the federal government.

In Quebec, where parents already pay less than $10 a day for care, the TD study suggests that for every dollar invested in child care, between $1.50 and $2.80"comes back to the broader economy."

Before the implementation of the Quebec Educational Childcare Act in 1997, the labour force participation rate for women in Quebec was four percentage points lower than in the rest of Canada.

Today, that rate is four points higher than the Canadian average. Quebec women now have some of the highest employment rates in the world, Freeland said.

A senior government official, speaking on a not-for-attribution basis during a technical briefing for reporters, said Quebec would see some of the $30 billion in child care spending but the details of that "asymmetrical agreement" will be worked out at a later date.

In her budget speech in the House of Commons, Freeland said she was determined to build this nationwide "social infrastructure" after previous attempts failed.

"I make this promise to Canadians today, speaking as your finance minister and as a working mother we will get it done," she said.

"COVID has brutally exposed something women have long known: Without childcare, parents usually mothers can't work."

Freeland said the child care program will not materialize overnight. Ottawa will have to negotiate the program with the provinces and territories because child care is principally a provincial responsibility.

"This is not an effort that will deliver instant gratification. We are building something that, of necessity, must be constructed collaboratively, and for the long-term. But I have confidence in us," Freeland said.

The Liberal plan got a thumbs-upfrom child care advocates Monday, with the Canadian Child Care Federation praising the government's "incredible leadership" on a long-promised program.

"Importantly, this is not just about spaces, but a historic investment in building a system, which will include Canada's early childhood education workforce. It will take timebut we are ready to start moving forward for all," the federation said in a statement.

Child Care Now, a national advocacy group, called the $30billionplan "historic" anda"turning point" because it will create accessible and affordable care by capping the amountparents pay.

WATCH | Working parents say national child-care plan could be life changing:

"Provincial and territorial governments will be hard pressed to turn away, especially given that each has stated repeatedly through the pandemic that child care is essential to their own economies," saidMorna Ballantyne, the group's executive director.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, meanwhile,signalled his party would oppose the child careinitiative.

"This is one area where we'll be proposing amendments and ever better policies," he said."I'd prefer letting parents be in the driver's seat and giving options to all Canadianfamilies.

"Canadians deserved better than an election-style budget when we're in a pandemic."

In 2006, former prime minister Stephen Harper tore up a previous funding agreement for a national child care system,opting instead to send cheques to parents with young children.

"This is dj vu," O'Toole said, adding child care is a provincialresponsibility and premiers should take the lead. "The Liberals have promised this three times before and did they consult before making it a fourth time?"

Cardus, a faith-based think tank, offered a similar criticism, saying this sort program will unfairly punish parents who care for their own children.

"Supporting parents directly is the equitable way to help all families, regardless of the type of care arrangement they use," said Andrea Mrozek, a senior fellow with the group. "The proposed plan devalues the work parents and other caregiversdo outside of an institutional setting."

At successive Liberal Party policy conventions, delegates have endorsed child care measures.

But at the party convention earlier this month, members signalled their top priority was some sort of national pharmacare plan to help Canadians pay for prescription drugs.

There are no new spending commitments for pharmacare in this budget. Instead, the government commits to "moving forward" on such a plan and working with the provinces, territories and other stakeholders "to build on the foundational elements that are already in progress, like the national strategy on high-cost drugs for rare diseases, toward the goal of a universal national program."

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the Liberal budget "let the ultra-rich off the hook" by failing to levy a wealth tax that could have helped tofund new programs like pharmacare. He said he doesn't trust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep his promises.

"Pharmacare was something he campaigned on it was in the throne speech and now his budget has completely abandoned it. What's to say he won't do the same with child care?" Singh said. "They're breaking their commitment and their confidence with Canadians, and they'll have to pay a price."

But Singh said there's "no way" his party would trigger a mid-pandemicelectionby voting against this budget in the Commons.

The pandemic has killed thousands of seniors in this country, including many in long term care homes. A recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) found 14,000 long term care residents have died of COVID-19 in this country to date, representing 69 per cent of all COVID-related deaths in Canada significantly higher than the international average of 41 per cent.

Many have called for reforms to the way long term care functions in Canada to avoid future tragedies. Today, Freeland promised $3 billion in new spending over five years to help the provinces and territories implement new standards of care in these homes.

The Heath Standards Organization and Canadian Standards Association are now drafting new national guidelines for long term care homes. The new money announced today is meant to ensure those "permanent changes are made," Freeland said.

"We have tragically failed so many of those living in long term care facilities," she added. "To them, and to their families, let me say this I am so sorry. We owe you so much better than this. As a country, we must fix what is so clearly and utterly broken."

Link:

Liberals promise $30B over 5 years to create national child-care system - CBC.ca

Liberal MP Sean Casey and Conservative MP Rob Moore agree Monday's federal budget was an election budget, but they do not agree on the implications of that.

Casey, the MP for Charlottetown, did not hesitate to label Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's plan an election budget, saying he fully expects an election in the fall because the behaviour of the opposition will make an election necessary.

"When you look at the obstructionist tactics that are being used by the opposition to thwart the government's agenda from going forward, and when you look at this budget, in my view it's quite clearly an election budget," he said.

While it is a budget Casey would be happy to campaign on, Moore, the MP for Fundy-Royal in New Brunswick, who has Conservative caucus responsibility for P.E.I., characterized it in a different way.

"This is a budget that is all about an election and not about actual results," said Moore.

Moore expressed concern about the money set aside to support the tourism industry, which is perhaps the hardest hit sector in the COVID-19 pandemic. That support tapers off through the summer and into the fall.

"Whether you're talking about the tourism sector or small business, people are in need of help in Atlantic Canada right now," he said.

"Some of the funding for the tourism sector is earmarked for next year, when I know that the many tourism operators in my riding, they need help this year."

Casey said there is no need for alarm.

"It isn't a concern at all. The prime minister has been clear from the get go that we will be there for as long as it takes. So, although the plan is to scale these measures back, if they need to be increased they will be," he said.

"The plan laid out in the budget anticipates that the vaccines will catch up to the variants, that the economy will start to come back."

Moore also attacked the lack of focus on health care during the pandemic.

"There's nothing in it about health care. Our health-care systems are strained to the max right now," he said.

"The premiers were calling for help in that regard. Instead, we see this new program about child care that's going to cost $30 billion."

Moore said the child care program is set out as something that will be developed over the coming years, and expressed doubts about whether it would actually happen, saying the Liberals have promised national child care programs before.

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Freeland delivered an election budget, Liberal and Conservative MPs agree - CBC.ca

Falk said its good to see the government is extending the COVID-19 relief aid for those affected with job losses, but she is disappointed there doesnt appear to be a plan for more economic opportunities for Canadian families.

Many workers have had their wages cut and hours slashed because economies arent open yet, she said, but there isnt a plan for that.

This is the first [budget] for two years, right, so that makes it a little more difficult maybe for the government, she said. But were getting a little bit better of a financial snapshot of where Canada is at.

Larry Ingram of Turtleford, the former federal Liberal candidate for the BattlefordsLloydminster, said he is in favour of the budget.

Im looking at the budget to some degree now and thinking that its a good budget, he told battlefordsNOW. I think that if the Opposition Party supports it, then we will be in a good position. I honestly believe that the federal Liberals have done a really good job with the COVID-19, keeping it under control as much as possible.

As far as support for agriculture in concerned, Ingram says that also requires more response on the provincial levels for risk management program upgrades.

Im an hour out of North Battleford and the things Ive been asked about over the last while have been more related to packages like the AgriStability, which the federal government has proposed to the provincial governments, that they go and do their share of the funding. The provincial governments havent been doing that yet, he said. So that is one of the things that has been more clear to me. You cant blame the federal government for it not coming out yet.

Looking at economic opportunities in the federal budget, Ingram said he believes there is significant job creation right now.

Especially as we move into the Green Energy , he said. There are a lot of jobs going to be in that, as people decide its time we went there and start getting involved in the supporting of it. There will be a lot of jobs manufacturing and actually just repurposing a lot of the vehicles and the equipment to electric.

On the governments high debt load and current financial situation, Ingram said the country couldnt have been able to get through this pandemic as well as it did without the federal Liberal party being in charge in Ottawa, responding to the nations needs.

Everybody is pretty well aware of that we have been able to control the pandemic quite a bit because of the federal Liberal party, he said. So Im quite happy with what this budget is coming out with. I look at it, and Im supporting it.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

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Conservative MP says budget needs job creation, while former Liberal candidate pleased with document - battlefordsNOW

Former Liberal Party leader Andrew Peacock has been remembered as a "great Australian" who has left an "indelible mark" on the country.

Tributes have flowed from all sides of politics since news of his death at the age of 82 on Friday evening.

"Andrew was a hugely significant figure in Australian politics of the 70s and 80s, and played a dominant role in the development of the Liberal Party," former prime minister John Howard said.

Former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett told the ABC Mr Peacock was "a wonderful servant to the country".

"He was a wonderful servant within the Liberal Partyand was an inspiration for the youthof the Liberal Party when he entered through the seat of Kooyong in 1966," he said.

Born in Melbourne on February 13, 1939, Mr Peacock was elected to Parliament at the age of 27.

His age saw him dubbed the "colt of Kooyong", a moniker which stuck for his nearly three decades in Parliament.

He held a number of cabinet portfolios during his time in politics, including as foreign minister between 1975 and 1980, then led the Liberals at elections in1984 and 1990.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who currently holds the blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong, said Mr Peacock was "a great Victorian, he was a great Australian, and he will be greatly missed".

"Australia has lost one of its greats in Andrew Peacock," he said.

"He combined great elegance, styleand substance and he left an indelible mark on the Australian political scene."

After leaving politics in 1994, Mr Peacock served as Australia's ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 1999.

He spent much of the rest of his life in the USand died at his Texas home.

He is survived byhis third wife Penne andthree children.

His daughter Ann Peacock said her "beautiful, loving, most caring, thoughtful, generous and brilliant father" would be "so greatly missed".

"Your guidance and deep love for us will live in my heart, we are absolutely devastated," she said.

AAP: Joe Castro

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday remembered Mr Peacock as "one of our greatest Liberals, who helped shape Australia and the Liberal Party over three decades".

John Hewson, a former colleague of Mr Peacock who went on to follow in his footsteps as Liberal leader, said: "Andrew was a great Australian."

"I think he would havebeen an excellent PM," Dr Hewson told the ABC.

"I always saw him as a small-l liberal, really, in a large-L Liberal Party. I know that annoys some people in the Liberal Party to say that, but that's what he was.

"He had very strong and compassionate social policy views while he was preparedto take a harder line view on the economic issues and so on."

Dr Hewson said his friend and colleague made "principled stands" during his time in political life, both within the party and in his role as foreign minister.

"I was very pleased to be his friend as well as working for him. We had funny occasions together outside of Parliament," Dr Hewson said.

Mr Howard said his former colleague and rival was a "quite outstanding foreign minister" who forged important relationships with countries in the region and deepened the US alliance.

He is known for taking a stance against the Khmer Rouge genocide.In his earlier position as minister for territories, Mr Peacock played a key role in the path to Papua New Guinea's independence.

Mr Peacock spent much of the 80s battling with Mr Howard for the party's leadership positionand he served as opposition leader twice.

Mr Howard acknowledged the pair had their personal differencesbut said they had "well and truly buried the hatchet" by the time he was appointed US ambassador.

"He brought to all that he did in public life a great amount of style, flair and distinction," Mr Howard said.

AAP: Alan Porritt

In 1987,Mr Peacock and then-Victorian opposition leader Mr Kennett were recorded in a phone call using colourful language about Mr Howard, who was federal Liberal leader at the time.

"On a personal note, I remember him as a very close friend," Mr Kennett said.

"We lived so much of our political lives in each other's company, both the highs and the lows," Mr Kennett said.

"It's sad that he's gone. But unfortunately, we're all going to follow him."

Victoria's Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said Mr Peacock was just as comfortable in the betting ring at Flemington as he was in the corporate boardrooms of Collins Street.

"He was a giant of the Victorian Liberal Party," Mr O'Brien said.

Victoria turned blue under Mr Peacock in the 1990 electionbut "unfortunately the rest of the country didn't play along otherwise Andrew would've been prime minister," Mr O'Brien said.

"His career shows you can have an enormous impact on the state and on the country without being prime minister."

Mr Frydenberg said Mr Peacock's passing would be "mourned by those on bothsides of the political aisle".

"Because he pursued his politics as he pursued life with vigour, with dignity and with the utmost decency," he said.

Former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard expressed her condolences the family of Mr Peacock, who she said would "be remembered fondly for both his political career and diplomatic service to Australia".

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Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he was "a respected former liberal leader, minister and ambassador to the US who advocated for liberal values over so many decades".

Mr Albanese said Mr Peacock was a "fine Australian" who would be sadly missed by his family and many friends.

Mr Peacock was known for encouraging younger MPs from all political parties.

"He was distinguishedfor that sort of standing across theaisle," Dr Hewson said.

"He didn't play favourites. Hewasn't tribal in today's sense.

"Ithink he took people on theirmerits. He encouraged people andencouraged them to meet their fullpotential."

Health Minister Greg Hunt, who was recruited by Mr Peacock as a young student, remembered a "true parliamentarian".

"He loved the parliament, he loved the notion of freedom, he loved the concept of each Australian being theirbest self," he said.

Mr Howard said Mr Peacock was respected by both Republicans and Democrats during his time representing Australia in the US.

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Former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock remembered as 'great Australian' with lasting legacy - ABC News